You’ve been sitting in your driveway for over half an hour. Every time you turn the key to your car, it acts like it’s going to crank, but fails to do so. At this point, you’re going to have to call out of work.
What gives?
Depending on the age of your battery, it might be time for you to replace it. Slow-cranking is only one of the signs that’s something’s up. If you’re also dealing with dimming headlights and backfiring, you’re in trouble.
We can help you out with choosing a car battery. Keep reading this shopping guide to learn everything that you need to look for.
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You don’t want to buy a new battery if that’s not what your problem is. That’s why before we talk about going shopping, we’re going to discuss how to tell that your battery is taking a dump.
A dying battery can’t produce enough juice to power all the components in your vehicle. This includes your headlights. They may work still, but they’ll be much weaker than normal.
If you’re having this problem, you can visit batteries sunshine coast replacement car battery right away. We don’t have to tell you that not being able to fully see the road at night is a major safety hazard.
When you turn the key to your ignition, an entire process plays out. The battery sends a current to your starter. This gets the vehicle up and running.
A weak battery will have problems sending out the proper signal. It results in an annoying clicking sound. Your engine also won’t crank up as quickly.
Backfiring might be the most aggressive sign that something is going on. A failing battery can cause sparks to flare up. These sparks could result in a build-up of fuel in your cylinders.
When this fuel gets ignited, your car will backfire. Keep in mind that a dying battery isn’t the only thing that can cause this problem. You won’t know for sure what’s going on until you take your vehicle to an experienced mechanic.
You shouldn’t have to give your car any extra get up and go by pressing your foot on the gas pedal. If cranking the key isn’t enough to do the job, you should start weighing your battery options.
In most cases, if your car’s battery is about to go out, it will tell you. The check engine light will come on. This light may not always mean that there’s something up with your battery.
It does mean that your car is experiencing some kind of issue, however, so you shouldn’t ignore it. Take your car in for servicing to get to the bottom of the problem.
If your car is having some of the issues above, lift up your hood. If you smell rotten eggs, this is a sign that you’ve got a leaking battery.
This can happen due to age or damage to your battery’s casing. Either way, you’ll have to take the vehicle to a mechanic.
Now that you’ve established if your car battery is on its last legs, you can begin looking around at providers. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you begin your shopping trip.
When it comes to buying anything, you need time on your side. If you wait for your battery to go out before you start shopping around, you’ll have to rush through the buying process.
You won’t have too much time to look at different providers and compare prices. That’s why it’s important to be proactive. Always be on the lookout for the signs that we listed above and make annual battery inspections part of your regular maintenance.
Power refers to cold-cranking amps and cranking amps. Cranking amps is the amount of juice your battery will need to start up your car when it’s at a temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cold-cranking amps is the power your battery will need to get things going when the car is 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The one you prioritize will depend on where you live.
If you stay in an area that sees a lot of snow and ice, cold-cranking amps are important. On the flip side of this, if you live somewhere with moderate temperatures, you can get by with regular old cranking amps.
There are small and large batteries. Every car has different size requirements. If you don’t adhere to them, the battery won’t be able to power your vehicle.
It will also jostle around as you drive, which can do permanent damage to your car’s inner components. Luckily for you, your user manual will tell you what size you’ll need to buy.
If you’ve tossed out the manual or lost it, don’t worry. Any mechanic worth their salt will be able to take one look at your car and know what size you should buy.
If you want to get the most out of your new battery, you’ll need to pick one that’s less than 6 months old. The reason being is that as a battery sits in storage, it loses power.
Every model comes with a code on the side. This code will tell you the month and day the battery was made. You can also ask the mechanic about the battery’s age before they put it in your vehicle.
You should never try to recycle your old car battery on your own. It’s full of chemicals that are hazardous to yourself and the environment. Your mechanic will know how to get the job done.
After they’re finished putting in your new battery, turn in the old one to them. You may have to pay a small disposal fee, but it won’t be enough to break your bank.
Even if you buy a reliable battery from www.rbbattery.com, there’s still an opportunity for things to go wrong. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a little backup.
If your battery is still under warranty, you’ll be able to trade it in for a new model at no extra charge. Do a little shopping around to find a model with the best protection plan.
When buying a new battery, you’ll need to pay some serious attention to the placement of your terminals. If the positive terminal on your battery were to touch the metal in the car, it will cause a dangerous short circuit. That level of electrical damage is the last thing you need.
To avoid this problem, consult your user manual or mechanic. Both will be able to help you choose a battery with all the terminals in the right place.
If your last battery served you well, you might as well go with the tried and true. Picking a name brand will cost you a pretty penny.
The thing is, you get what you pay for. If you try to cut corners by going with a cheaper brand, you may end up replacing your battery again before you’d like to.
There are two types of batteries that you can choose from. The sealed ones have liquid electrolyte running through them. This means that you pretty much won’t have to lift a finger to maintain them.
The second type will need some servicing every 6 months. You’ll also have to add distilled water to it, or you may begin to experience issues.
The one you choose will depend on how much work you’re willing to put into your vehicle and the amount of money you’ve got in your wallet.
Your battery’s reserve capacity is the amount of time that it can work without relying on you your engine to run. A battery with a higher capacity can help you through some sticky situations.
For example, if you leave your lights on or your alternator begins to fail, you may still be able to crank up your vehicle without needing to get a jump.
Is your car beginning to stall on you? Are you trying to drive with dimmed lights? It might be time for you to start thinking about choosing a car battery.
The old one needs replacing sooner rather than later. If you fail to do so, you could find yourself broken down on the side of the road.
For more car maintenance tips that will keep it running like a well-oiled machine, visit our blog.
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