One of the worst sounds in any car owner’s world is that of a click, click, click when you turn your key to start your car. It’s then you know that you should have paid attention to the other signs that your car battery was getting old. You may be able to get one last jump to get it to the auto store to buy a replacement battery but not always. The important thing to know is to buy the right size car battery. Just like you can’t pick up any replacement battery for key fob, you have to buy the right battery for your car to ensure fit and performance.
Choosing the Right Battery
Every car has a car battery size. You can look on the battery itself, use your owner’s manual or look it up online. The most common sizes are a two-digit number. Size 75 fits most General Motors while Size 34 is for Chrysler cars. There are other sizes for different makes. Some car manufacturers recommend a specific car battery brand to meet the specifications of your car. If you choose an aftermarket battery, make sure to check the specs for your vehicle to find a battery that fits. Battery group size is an important thing to look for as it is the battery size that will best match the physical dimensions of your car. Many cars these days accommodate more than one battery group size.
In addition to the battery size, you’ll want to determine the cold cranking amps that you need. The specs of your car may recommend a range of CCA (Cold cranking amps). CCA is the number of amps a battery can support for every 30 seconds at 0 degrees F temperature until the battery voltage drops to inoperative levels. Batteries with a higher CCA work more effectively in colder weather to turn your car over when the oil is sluggish due to the weather. Another number that you may want to check is the reserve capacity. RC (Reserve capacity) is the number of minutes your fully charged battery can sustain itself before losing power.
You don’t want to overbuy on CCA or RC, but you shouldn’t under-buy, either. Generally, for both RC and CCA, the greater the number the better it is for your car. If you live in a particularly high temperature climate, having a high CCA is not necessary but for colder temperature, higher the CCA the better it is for your car. Make sure both numbers meet the manufacturer’s recommendations for best results. Then take in your driving style and conditions.
It’s about following manufacturer instructions. You can check the car battery already in use in your car or check the manual of your car which clearly specifies the perfect battery size for your car. In addition to that, you can take help from your trusted mechanic to find the best battery size for your car.
Car Battery Replacement Cost
The cost of your replacement battery depends on so many factors. Aftermarket batteries can help you save some money, but you shouldn’t necessarily choose the cheapest battery available in the market. Look for battery brands that have great reputation for offering batteries of great quality, longevity and cost advantage. Look at the warranty to make sure you won’t be left high and dry if the battery doesn’t work as long as expected.
You don’t always need a mechanic to replace your car battery. You do need a wrench to loosen the nut. Read the instructions for replacement before doing it. Wear a pair of work gloves to protect your hands. If you’re working around others, make sure to order PPE online to cover your mouth and nose. To have better understanding of the process of changing the battery, you can simply watch YouTube videos available on this topic.
How to Replace Your Car’s Parts
Car parts wear out. You will need to replace your windshield wipers, brake pads and oil filter over time. How often you should replace these items depend on the condition of your car and how smooth they are running. You may lose some of your accessories and need to replace them. We offer keyless car remotes to upgrade your car for function. You may even replace some items on your car for style or personality. AutoZone has a large inventory of car parts to give you better performance or more functionality for the way you drive.
Shop for auto accessories to give you the ride of your life. You can expect to find everything for your auto with us. You are just a click away to find the perfect match for auto accessories and parts on your website.
We hope you can find the right battery size for your car after knowing the details mentioned in this article.
