Car batteries, like all things, will have their power wear out eventually. However, there are certain key things you need to consider when buying a car battery that will help you make the best purchase possible for your car and make the most out of it.
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As much as it is tempting to buy the most affordable car battery possible, sometimes it will end up costing you more in the long run. Yes, you might be saving maybe $50-$100 buying a more affordable battery compared to a $300-$400 one, but in reality, these batteries have shorter battery life spans that will end up making you buy one every 1-2 years or so compared to a slightly more expensive one that will last you years, especially if you take good care of your car batteries. Research a bit more and save up to purchase a battery that will last you a bit longer, making you save up more money (and avoid the hassle!) in the long run.
Car batteries do not have a universal size, “one-size-fits-all” kind of situation. Look for a car battery that fits the terminal locations. If the terminals are in the wrong spot then it’s either the car cables wouldn’t be able to reach the battery or they might not be snug enough to fit.
Pick the newest car battery, if possible -- or take note of the car battery’s manufacturing date. As a practical tip, buy car batteries that are less than six months old from when they were manufactured.
Another tip is to check a 2-character alphanumeric code on the battery. The first character is a letter from A-L, which represents the 12 months of the year (A is January, B is February and so forth) while the 2nd character is a number from 0 to 9 (0 is 2010, 1 is 2011 and so forth).
Choose a car battery with a long free-replacement period. Car battery manufacturers divide their warranties into the free-replacement period and the prorated period. Prorated period is the partial reimbursement of the customer after a certain amount of years if the free-replacement period has already lapsed.
For those who live in colder temperatures, this should be very important: CCA (cold cranking amps) is a measurement of the ability of the battery to start a car at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Meanwhile, CA (cranking amps) is the energy needed to start a vehicle at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Reserve capacity is to indicate how long the battery can continue to run and operate if the alternator, stator and rotor fails. It is the number of minutes a 12-volt battery can provide a current of 25amps at 80 degrees Fahrenheit without falling below minimum voltage. It is also a measure of how long someone can accidentally leave lights on (battery discharging) and still won’t need a jump-start.
These are just some of the basic tips when choosing a good car battery. Onlinecarstereo.com, aside from being your one-stop shop with car audio/video and accessories, is also an XS Power Authorized Dealer! XS Power specializes in car racing and competition car audio, so you are assured that you’ll be getting a high-performing car battery. Browse here for our wide selection of XS Power batteries and subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly promotions and save tons of cash.
