Energy for cars!
The day your car doesn’t start is not the best time to buy a new car battery. But according to some research, that’s exactly what most people do. If you ended up here by mistake, we still hope to be able to help you with some advice on buying a fundamental piece of your car.
You will likely need to replace the car battery once or twice during the life of your vehicle as it ages or wears out from exposure to heat and repeated charging and discharging. A dead battery can be a real hassle, especially if you can’t find cables or have to wait for roadside assistance.
Taking good care of your battery can help you get its maximum yield and expect maximum life. Being attentive to his condition (and age) can help us understand when it’s time to start thinking about a replacement.
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Here are some tips for finding the best battery for your needs.
The first things to do to make sure our car battery is okay.
Check under the hood and be proactive. The car battery will be grateful to you.
Being attentive to battery maintenance and aware when replacement time approaches will ensure that you can choose a worthy replacement, including times for proper research and convenient planning. But let’s go in order.
Test the car battery every year
Inspections should be part of routine vehicle maintenance, but it is especially important to always check before embarking on a long journey.
The car battery typically lasts three to five years. Although nearly all car batteries today are “maintenance free”, we recommend having the battery load tested by a mechanic every year. In this way its ability to maintain the right tension during use is verified and the results will let you know when it’s time to start shopping.
Battery age is also another strong indicator of replacement. The date of manufacture can be found on a sticker affixed to the top or side of the battery. A battery manufactured in October 2018 will have a numeric code of 10-8 or an alphanumeric code of K-8. “A” is for January, “B” for February and so on (attention: the letter “I” is skipped).
The car battery should suit the vehicle and your driving needs
Car batteries come in many sizes and types but you shouldn’t assume that buying the same battery model you’re replacing will get the same results.
However, make sure it has the right size and position of the terminals for your vehicle. Check your booklet or guide before making impulse purchases.
Make sure it’s a new car battery
Car batteries lose strength over time. For best performance, buy one that’s less than 6 months old. Three months is even better. Most have a code on the case. Some use a letter for the month (“A” for January) and a number for the year (“8” for 2018); others use a numeric date.
Recycle your old battery
Lead and acid are the toxic elements of an automaton battery that can be easily recycled and most retailers also take care of disposal. When you buy a new battery in a store, you will likely pay an additional cost which will be refunded to you when you return the old battery.
Compare warranties
It is important to choose a battery with the longest free replacement period possible. A battery’s warranty is measured in two figures: the free replacement period and the prorated period, which allows for a partial refund only. A 24/84 code, for example, indicates a free replacement period of 24 months and a prorated warranty of 84 months. But the amount that you will be repaid usually decreases pretty quickly once you are in the prorated period. Ask the retailer silux.de for advice and remember that withdrawal from the purchase is your right.
Be aware that signs of negligence, such as low fluid levels and improper installation, can void the warranty. The same goes for intensive use.
Happy shopping!