How to Choose the Perfect Car Battery: A Step-by-Step Guide

Posted on October 30, 2023 by autorepair

Having trouble starting your car can be a sign of a dying battery. But how do you ensure that you choose the perfect replacement? The world of car batteries can be confusing, with numerous brands and specifications to consider.

Whether you’re a seasoned driver or new behind the wheel, this step-by-step guide simplifies the process of choosing the perfect car battery. We delve into the intricacies of car battery replacement and maintenance, ensuring that your next car battery is the ideal match for your vehicle’s needs. Stay tuned, and prepare to arm yourself with the knowledge needed to make an informed decision.

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Understanding Car Batteries

Before diving into the selection process, it’s essential to understand the basics of car batteries. These devices store energy and provide an electrical charge to start your vehicle. They also power the headlights, stereo, and other electronic components while the engine is off. Car batteries come in different shapes and sizes, with each serving a specific purpose. The most common type of car battery is the lead-acid battery, which uses a chemical reaction to generate electricity. These batteries have two terminals, a positive and negative, with electrolytes in the middle that help create an electrical charge.

Determining Your Vehicle’s Battery Requirements

The first step in choosing the perfect car battery is determining your vehicle’s battery requirements. This information can typically be found in the car’s manual or on the existing battery. It includes the battery group size, reserve capacity, and cold-cranking amps (CCA). The group size refers to the physical dimensions of the battery, while reserve capacity measures how long it can supply a continuous stream of power. CCA is a measure of how well your battery performs in cold temperatures. Make sure to choose a battery that meets or exceeds these specifications, as a mismatched battery can lead to performance issues and potential damage to your vehicle.

Considering Different Automotive Battery Brands and Types

With so many brands offering car batteries, it’s essential to consider the reputation of the manufacturer. You want a battery from a trusted brand with a proven track record of quality and reliability. It’s also crucial to consider the type of battery you need. While lead-acid batteries are the most common, there are also gel-cell and AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries available. These types offer benefits such as longer life spans and better performance in extreme temperatures but usually come at a higher cost.

Factoring in Your Driving Habits

Another important aspect to consider is your driving habits. If you use your vehicle for short trips or infrequently, a battery with a high reserve capacity may be a better choice. This allows the battery to maintain its charge even when the engine is off for extended periods. On the other hand, if you have a longer commute or frequently drive in extreme temperatures, a battery with a higher CCA would be more suitable. It’s crucial to choose a battery that aligns with your driving habits to ensure optimal performance and longevity.

Maintaining Your Car Battery

Proper maintenance is key to prolonging the life of your car battery. Regularly check the battery for any signs of corrosion or buildup on the terminals, which can hinder its performance. Clean them with a mixture of baking soda and water if necessary. It’s also essential to keep your battery charged, especially during periods of inactivity. Consider investing in a trickle charger or driving your vehicle regularly to prevent the battery from draining completely.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the perfect car battery can seem overwhelming, but armed with this step-by-step guide, you can make an informed decision that meets your vehicle’s specific requirements. Remember to determine your vehicle’s battery needs, consider different brands and types, factor in your driving habits, and properly maintain your battery for optimal performance. By following these steps, you can ensure that your car always starts smoothly and reliably.

Are you looking for a dependable automotive mechanic for help with your battery or alternator issues? Contact Northeast Auto Service at 317-475-1846 for professional automotive service and repair in Indianapolis, Indiana for altern a tors and car batteries. Request a free estimate, or schedule service, today.

Common Causes for Parasitic Draw in Automotive Batteries

Posted on November 7, 2017 by autorepair

Parasitic draw sounds like something that would describe an illness or insect, but instead has everything to do with automotive batteries. Continue reading to what parasitic draw is and what causes it to happen in car batteries.

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Parasitic Drain

Parasitic draw, also called drain, is the electric current that flows through a vehicle, both while it runs and after the ignition is turned off. You know how you can forget to turn off your headlights, and then your car won’t start the next day? Well, this is just one example of parasitic drain. Modern cars and trucks can easily come equipped with over 50 onboard computers tied together in a single system. This means there are numerous operations using electricity in vehicles, even when the engine is not running.

Once the engine is turned off, most cars computer systems will enter sleep mode, and reduce the amount of parasitic draw to less than 0.05 of an amp. Alarms, stereo systems, clocks, interior lights, engine management computers, GPS, Bluetooth, Wifi, charging docks, seat heating modules, and more are just a few operations that can drain a vehicle’s battery while the engine is off. Even bad instrument panels are known to cause parasitic drain. If one or more system fails to “go to sleep”, it can use up enough electricity to discharge a battery overnight.

Sometimes if the battery doesn’t discharge too much, the alternator can restore the energy when the car is driven. This process is called “deep cycling the battery”, in which the battery is deeply discharged and then restored. If a vehicle is experiencing this up and down cycle of battery problems, the issue needs to be fixed in order to make it stop. But can you stop parasitic drain? Or at least slow it down? Sure, as long as you are conservative with your car’s computer system use, and provide proper battery maintenance, you should experience the minimal standard for parasitic drain. But after a while, even the best quality car batteries die and will need to be replaced.

Proper Battery Maintenance

Talk to your local Indianapolis auto repair shop about your vehicle’s factory scheduled maintenance needs, and learn the right way to care for your battery. They can teach you what’s necessary for your vehicle’s battery life, as well as, all other areas of car maintenance. It is important to have your vehicle serviced at all the right intervals in order to increase safety, performance, and longevity.

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Call Northeast Auto at 317-475-1846 for affordable auto repair and routine service in Indianapolis, Indiana. We provide domestic and foreign car repair and factory scheduled maintenance for all make and model vehicles. On top of competitive prices, we also offer car repair coupons and discounts! Call 317-475-1846 to request a free estimate, today.

How to Jump Start a Car Battery

Posted on August 22, 2015 by autorepair

Automotive batteries are not meant to last forever; in fact, they are designed to only last three to five years before needing replaced. Even with proper maintenance, there are several circumstances that can lead to a drained car battery. This is why a dead battery is one of the leading causes of vehicular breakdowns each year. For this reason, it is wise for drivers to learn how to jump start a dead car battery in the case that it happens to them or a fellow driver. Continue reading for a step by step guide for jump starting a dead car battery, and who to call for professional car battery replacement services near you!

Dead Car Battery

There are several reasons why a car battery can drain its charge. Exposure to extreme heat or cold, leaving the interior or exterior lights on for an extended period of time, and simply not driving a vehicle for a while are just a few examples of how to drain a car battery. For whatever reason your car battery dies (unless it’s old), you can jump start it back up with a set of jumper cables and another running vehicle. You can purchase jumper cables at any local hardware store or automotive store for a low price. Some emergency roadside kits come with jumper cables as well, so these products are highly recommended to buy. Just be sure to keep the jumper cables and roadside kit in your trunk at all times in case you ever need them.

Getting Set Up

Once you are ready to jump start your dead car battery, have the other driver pull their vehicle closer to your car, engine to engine. This can be done side to side, or head to head. Just be sure the jumper cables can reach both car batteries. Now you are ready to connect the cables. Before you start, be aware that clamping jumper cables in the wrong location can damage certain electrical components. Because of this, you MUST read the owners’ manual and know exactly what you are doing before you get started. Also, never touch the two ends of the jumper cables together when one end is connected to a running vehicle. This can cause painful electrocutions and shocks.

Jump Starting a Car Battery:

1. Turn OFF both vehicles.

2. Identify the Positive (+) and Negative (-) sides of each vehicle’s battery. These are where the jumper cables will connect with clamps. Positive is usually red and negative is usually black.

3. Start at the charged battery and connect the RED clamp/cable to the Positive (+) side of the battery.

4. Now connect the other red clamp to the positive side of the dead battery.

5. While at the dead battery, connect the black clamp to the Negative (-) side of it.

6. Now connect the other black clamp to the Negative (-) side of the good car battery.

7. Double check that the clamps and cables are nowhere near any moving engine parts.

8. Turn ON the running vehicle with the good battery.

9. Wait one minute then turn on the other vehicle. If the battery is charged, the vehicle will turn on. Depending on how drained it is, some car batteries will need to stay connected to a running vehicle for 5 minutes or more.

10. Disconnect the jumper cables in reverse order to how they were connected from the start. Black cables then red cables, good battery then recharged battery.

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If you need car battery replacement in Indianapolis, call Northeast Auto Service at 317-475-1846 today. We are ASE licensed mechanics with decades of experience and training in the automotive service industry. We service and repair all make and model vehicles at the most competitive prices in town. We also offer auto repair coupons and discounts. Call 317-475-1846 for factory scheduled maintenance and battery replacement services in Indianapolis, IN today.