Did you decide to replace your car’s battery yourself?? The first thing to do is to buy the right one !! Check this guide @PartsAvatar Canada.

With the number of auto batteries available in the market, making choice can be confusing! Car battery failures are the most frequent motoring problem, so how can you get the right one? Here are some key factors you should consider! - Brought to you by PartsAvatar Auto Body Parts.

The colder the weather, the harder car batteries have to work. If you live in countries like Canada, America we don’t need to explain how harsh the winter is.

Battery problems are frequent in colder and damper areas. If you are struggling to turn the engine on, it means the time of replacement has arrived.

But the question is how do you know which battery is right for your vehicle? Which one should you pick? Don’t freak out, PartsAvatar is here to help you! Here we list some important factors that play pivotal role in choosing a battery.

Brand

Brand is one of the pivotal factors as it refers to the trademark given to a certain product. Some battery manufacturer’s sell their product with the same name for example Exide company produces Exide batteries.

It is best to go with your owner manual’s choice for best results. But if your owner manual’s battery choice is too expensive then don’t worry you can go for alternative similar to its specifications.

Owner’s manual also states specification requirements so you can follow it to buy battery of other company.

Don’t go for cheap brands or batteries. Your savings may be short lived because cheap batteries may be loaded with defects and will also produce poor performance. You can check the brand’s reviews and history on internet. Investing some money into something reliable and long lasting won’t be a bad deal.

Some of the best manufacturers of batteries in aftermarket world are:

1. Delphi

2. Bosch

3. Dorman

4. Blue Streak

5. AC Delco

PartsAvatar Canada ships auto parts from these above stated manufacturers to its customer’s door. You won’t be running out of option there!

So, better buy a branded battery at a reputable dealership or auto parts store.

Size

Size or group size refers to the height, width and length of the battery. The battery council international (BCI) assigns numbers and letters for each group size.

It is very important for the battery to fit snugly and securely. You should consult your car’s manual for proper specifications. It is important that you use the appropriate size as stated by the manufacturer of your vehicle.

You can also follow the reference guides that the retailers provide and find out the appropriate battery size for your car.

The size of battery depends on factors like terminal locations and physical dimensions under the bonnet. Make sure the battery fits properly.

Wrong will not only be a waste of money but will damage more parts of your car.

Cold Cranking Amps

Cranking amps refer to the measure of battery’s starting power. Cold cranking amps is the measure of cranking amps at 0°C or 32°F for 30 seconds. If you live in colder climate like Canada, this is an important consideration.

Diesel engines need more cranking amps than petrol ones.

You should strictly consider CCA if you live in cold climate. During freezing weather, your car’s engine will be hard to start because the engine oil thickens and the chemical reactions slow down. Battery starting power damages as the battery ages so a battery with high power will drive more smoothly.

You won’t be bothered much if you live in warm region. So CCA ratings don’t matter much there. But choosing a battery with higher CCA rating would be best decision for your car provided you live in colder region. You car’s engine wont stall even in snowy mornings if you select higher CCA battery.

Its best to refer to your vehicle’s manual. Avoid choosing CCA ratings much higher or much lower than the manual specified ratings. If by any chance, you can’t find your desired brand and CCA rating, then don’t worry, you can choose a bit higher rating. But that difference should be a bit not much. Lower CCA may result in poor performance.

Age

The Age of a product gives you an idea on how long it should be able to perform. A battery is considered fresh if it is less than six months old.

You don’t want to buy one that’s more than six months old or you won’t be benefiting from a full lifetime’s wear. You can check the dates which are often written on batteries.

Most dates are stamped in the form of codes on labels.

Letters indicate Months for instance A is January and B is February. Digits depict the year for example 9-1999, 0-2000 and 1-2001 and so on.

Whatever brand you buy, just don’t buy battery older than six months.

Battery Reserve Capacity

RC or reserve capacity refers to battery’s standing power in case the alternator fails. It identifies how many minutes the battery can deliver a constant current of 25 Amp at 80°F without falling below the minimum voltage, 1.75V needed to keep your vehicle running.

With a high reserve capacity rating, your car can run even if your car’s alternator or fan belt fails. RC rating is listed in minutes and is usually printed on the label.

In simple language, RC rating is your vehicle’s emergency kit. The longer the operating time of the battery’s reserve capacity the better because this quality can save you from stranding on road. In unexpected emergency situation, you can still run safely instead of getting stuck.

But this does not mean that you can choose the highest rating on your own. Always follow your owner manual’s prescribed specifications. Owner’s manual will suggest the best RC rating that your vehicle can tolerate.

Batteries are priced by their life expectancy. Most are rated for five years. Buying poor quality and malfunctioning battery will definitely leave your stranded on the road.

But in case you don’t plan to keep your vehicle longer than five years, then no need to go for expensive long term battery.

Replacing your old battery along with alternator and car fan belt won’t be a bad idea though!

You can also take your old battery and compare it with the new one. It should be of same size, shape and configuration.

Don’t install used batteries as the results would be extremely dangerous.

And for your battery to keep long running, you need to check them regularly.

The bottom-line is you can just throw your money right? Get something good, unless you have the habit to stand and call for help. For sure with this guide, at least you will get a good deal.

If you want to buy auto parts at your fingertips, then don’t roam here and there. PartsAvatar ships auto parts at your doorsteps. Don’t forget free shipping for orders over $99.

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