Before discussing battery maintenance, please make sure that your battery is, in fact, the sealed type. If it isn't, then the "maintenance free" label certainly does not apply and you will need to add water on a regular basis. Unsealed batteries are easy to spot as they have small vent caps on top of the battery which can be twisted open. You will need to periodically add distilled water to maintain water levels; more so in the summer months as water tends to evaporate quicker. Do not let your battery run low or run out of water as the battery's cells can be ruined.
If your battery is of the sealed variety, then the "maintenance free" label is still only partially true since the term only extends to you not needing to add water to the cells as you would with an unsealed battery.
With any type of car battery - sealed or unsealed - you must do the following to help keep it working properly:
1. Clean the cables. Disconnect the cables from the battery and clean them with a wire brush that has been doused in a home made mixture [the mixture combines one tablespoon of baking soda with one cup of water]. Use this same mixture to clean off the top of the battery; use a small and clean paint brush to apply the solution where needed.
2. Lubricate the posts. A small dab of petroleum jelly on each post will help keep your cables clean and free of corrosion longer. In addition, the jelly will make it easier for you to slip the cables back onto the battery.
3. Check connections. Besides the connection between the cable and the posts, make sure that the battery hold down bar is securely in place. Not all cars have or need a battery hold down bar, but if yours has come so equipped, you will need to put it back in its proper place.
That's it! Car battery maintenance is an easy task and one that should be performed on an annual basis. If you keep your battery properly maintained, you will extend its life and greatly reduce the chance that your battery will fail you at an inopportune time. Yes, the "maintenance free" label is incorrect, so please don't be lulled into forgetting to do something that should never be overlooked.
Ever been in a situation where you are in the middle of nowhere, you are tired and hungry and when you are about to leave your car would not start? This is indeed a typical scenario. A dead or weak battery often is the reason for such unfortunate situation. If it happened to you once or twice, the situation is crying out to you. Possibly, you will need to buy a new battery car charger so you will not end up in such difficult position again.
But how do you choose the best battery charger for your car?
Certainly, there are so many brands and models of car battery charger available in the market today. If you are a novice in automobiles, parts and accessories, finding the right car battery will be very challenging. To help you decide and to narrow down your choices, following are tips on how to choose the best charger for your car:
Know Which Type Suits Your Car's Requirements
If you opt to buy rechargeable batteries, take note that you will also need to buy a decent charger to use. They come in three types. First is the AC charger. This type is the most convenient since you can easily plug this charger in any AC wall socket. The second type is the solar charger. This type does not require any plugging. It can function and operate with the use of the sun's powerful rays. The third type is the 12 volt charger which is very expedient and can be plugged even in a home's renewable energy system or even via your car's cigarette lighter.
Furthermore, it is important to identify which battery supports your car battery voltage. If you are driving a gas powered automobile, you are most probably running on a 12 voltage power. Conversely, if your car is a diesel powered vehicle, your car is most likely to using a 24 voltage power. So make sure that you know which type support your car's battery voltage before purchasing a car battery charger.
Understand The Different Car Battery Charger Features
Compare the different features of car battery charger brands to help narrow down your choices. Look for the adjust charge rate of the charger to prevent battery damage and or its compatibility with automotive or light marine battery
Maximize The Use Consumer Reports And Product Buying Guide Online
If you are clueless on which brand of car battery charger to buy you can read different consumer reports and product buying guide online. You will find information not just the price comparison but also the different car battery charger features. Moreover, you will see satisfactory reviews and commentaries from past consumers.
Check Sales During Fall Or Spring
If you are not in a hurry to buy a car charger battery, you may want to wait for fall or spring sales. The price of car battery chargers drops during fall and spring. You can also read through catalogs or paper ads from different auto parts and Sears.
Decide Whether To Buy Online Or Through Local Auto Parts
Online stores are very popular these days. It gives customers the convenience to choose and compare prices with other brands and online stores. It is important to make sure that when you are buying products online, you only transact with reputable online business stores. Be wary when leaving your account or personal information. In addition, most local auto parts also have their own websites to service the online consumers. Check if traveling to the store will save you more money than paying for the shipping fee.
Jump start your car and choose only the best car battery charger. The things mentioned above will surely help you make the wise choice. Good luck
Should you be looking for the best car battery to purchase you must know some of its characteristics, such as the cold cranking amps (CCA), the reserve capacity along with the group size. Let's start with the CCA.
CCA can be used in order to measure the ability of the battery to start the vehicle when it is cold outside. You need to purchase one that has a CCA rating which mustn't exceed the vehicle's original equipment manufacturer (OEM) cranking rate. If you don't be aware of rating for the car, you will have to check the owner's manual. If you happen to reside in an area which has a cold climate, it is recommended to buy an automobile battery that has a high CCA rating because of the reason that a chilled and sluggish engine will require a lot more capacity to start up.
Moving on to the reserve capacity, you need to know that it's the amount of minutes by which your automobile will run using only the battery if the alternator fails. Putting things inside a technical perspective, a completely charged battery will run at 25 amps and when the voltage falls below the minimum 10.5 amps necessary for order to run the car, you must change it with a brand new one. Obviously, you should buy an automobile battery that accompany the longest reserve capacity you'll find because of the reason why you might need that capacity in the unfortunate case in which your automobile will not start.
The group size concerns the outside dimensions of the batteries along with the keeping the ability terminals. Should you don't be aware of proper size for the vehicle, ask your mechanic or check the owner's manual.
Let's talk a little bit about the types of batteries. Basically you have two options: low maintenance (non-sealed) or maintenance-free. The first is recommended should you run your car in hotter climates. Taking into consideration the battery is not sealed, you will be able to add water whenever necessary. The 2nd kind of battery has a longer operational life and it is also takes less time to recharge. Their bad thing is that they're vulnerable to various failures due to the shedding of the active plate material that with time will weaken.
To get the best car battery to buy, acquire one that's "fresh". Quite simply, avoid purchasing a battery that's been about the shop's shelves in excess of Six months. Don't forget to check when the battery is made having a look at the case or the attached label. The manufacturing date includes a 2-digit code with one number and one letter ("A" means January; "B" for February and so forth); as the digit will represent the year ("11" is recognized as 2011). We recommend that you shouldn't purchase a battery from a gas station as most likely they'll be quite old.
As far as the warranty can be involved, it is determined by a set of 2 numbers which you will find for auction on it. Your priority will be to be aware of free replacement period. In other words, the interval of your time in which you'll obtain a free replacement should the battery you purchased does not work anymore. Another number you will discover on the label tells the total duration of the warranty.
We recommend that you buy a battery from one of these manufacturers: Napa, Exide, Duralast, Diehard, Everstart and others as well. Talk to your mechanic because he knows what type and brand of battery you need to get for the vehicle.
Your best bet when choosing car battery replacement choices is to first go to your local garage to find out what kind of battery type you need for your car. This will prevent any compatibility issues when cross mixing brands such as BMW and Mercedes.
Amazon and eBay buying tactics
The best thing on Amazon is the fact that the free shipping deal is on most of their range. This is not only convenient but also allows you to get the peace of mind that you are not pay extra than what you would at your local shopping mall. Also the speed of delivery makes it a very reliable and trustworthy place to do some shopping. Overall the best deals can be found on the first 10 results when a particular phrase is typed in. How their algorithm works to give you these results is not something that I care to place comment on but I will say that it saves a lot of time.
eBay is a completely different beast when looking for car battery replacement options. The automotive industry has its own sections and batteries are sold there by very reputable sellers. These can be found by checking out the number of sales transaction that they have done in the past and what they're average feedback rating is. Look at the description of the sales page to determine the battery size and life expectancy as these indicate the amount of time that passes before you need another replacement battery for your automobile.
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very informative blog,Car batteries tend to last longer if located inside the vehicle rather than under the hood and you will rarely ever see one corrode.
I also agree that factory installed batteries will only last 2-3 years.
Choosing right battery for your car is important. when you are looking to buy car battery you should have good amount of knowledge choosing right car battery.
Automotive Battery