Selecting the Right Car Battery (2023)

FAQs

Selecting the Right Car Battery? ›

A good rule of thumb is to replace your car battery every 3 years. If you are lucky enough to always drive in ideal driving conditions, such as in a place that does not experience extreme temperature conditions or excessive humidity levels, your car battery can last up to 6 years.

A good rule of thumb is to replace your car battery every 3 years. If you are lucky enough to always drive in ideal driving conditions, such as in a place that does not experience extreme temperature conditions or excessive humidity levels, your car battery can last up to 6 years.

If you're wondering how many CCAs you will need, a good rule of thumb is that an engine will need about one amp per cubic inch of engine displacement. For the majority of vehicles, this means between 250 and 600 CCA, depending on the size of your engine, though buses or larger RVs could require as much as 1,000 CCA.

No. Car batteries differ in multiple ways to work with different vehicle's specifications, and they are generally year, make, model-specific. Many car batteries do have one important similarity in how they work.

Many vehicles can accommodate more than one group size. Cold cranking amps (CCA) - CCA is critical for good cranking ability. It's the number of amps a battery can support for 30 seconds at a temperature of 0 degrees F until the battery voltage drops to unusable levels.

Some cars will get up to five or six years out of their battery, while others will need a new one after only two years. In general, your car will usually need a new battery after three to four years. Replacing your car battery is another part of routine maintenance.

Average Price of a Car Battery

Car batteries typically last anywhere from two to five years, depending on the battery type, climate and vehicle. Based on the make and model of your vehicle, you can expect to pay around $50 to $120 for a standard car battery and around $90 to $200 for a premium type.

Typically, a car battery will last for about 5 to 6 years and about 30,000 to 50,000 miles before needing to be replaced. It is a relatively minor cost to keep your car running strong.

As you will see shortly, the same group size battery can come in a variety of CCA ratings so you can choose a more powerful battery for your vehicle if needed. Using a battery with a higher CCA rating than what is recommended by the manufacturer is completely safe and won't harm your vehicle.

Is 500 cold cranking amps good? ›

The key to flawless cold-weather starts is to have a battery rated at least 600 CCA (cold cranking amps). Most standard car batteries are rated in the range of 300 to 500 CCA. They're fine for regular cars in most types of weather, including bitter cold.

Generally, batteries with the highest CCA rating possible are the best. That's because they have a better overall capacity and ability to withstand extreme weather conditions. When buying a replacement battery for your vehicle, choose one with a rating of 650 CCAs or more.

If you're having car battery trouble, it's time to head to your local AutoZone for free battery testing. If the battery is discharged but still technically sound, we can charge up the battery so you can be on your way. If the battery fails the test, we can help you find a suitable replacement.

Are Walmart Brand Vehicle Batteries Good Quality? Additionally, EverStart batteries are priced well against the competition. With convenient locations, battery fitting, and an excellent return and warranty policy, Walmart batteries may be a perfect choice for many different types of car owners.

Batteries gradually deteriorate until they can no longer provide enough power to start an engine. This wear time could take three to five years and a vehicle's usage pattern is one factor contributing to the rate at which a battery will age.

Big-name battery brands DieHard (Sears and Kmart), EverStart (Walmart), and Interstate all top our Ratings in some group sizes, but they are at or near the bottom in others. The greatest inconsistency comes from DieHard, which makes both the best and worst performers in two of six common sizes.

Reserve Capacity requires higher quality cell materials which means cheaper batteries have less. A higher CCA will give you more raw starting power and a high RC will help keep a battery going longer when an alternator fails or something is left on such as the headlights.

In general, one can always exceed the CCA spec. You probably do it on a warm day, with a charged battery. Having more potential current available will not hurt the car's electrical system.

Are EverStart batteries good? ›

But is EverStart a good battery? In short, yes, it is. Made by Johnson Controls specifically for Walmart stores, EverStart is a reliable brand that is worth buying. Johnson Controls is one of the top battery makers in the country, so you can trust the quality of their batteries.

You don't want to wait for your battery to completely die before replacing it, as you could easily become stranded with a non-starting engine. If you are noticing a slow start or weak start, it is likely your battery is dying.

Typically, the average car battery life is between three and five years. Pushing a battery longer than five years, even under perfect driving conditions, could cause your battery to fail without notice. For that reason, many manufacturers recommend a replacement schedule of five years.

Walmart is hands down the cheapest place to buy a car battery. They carry EverStart batteries, their in-store brand manufactured by Clarios, which also makes Optima batteries. In addition to EverStart, some Walmart stores carry other brands such as Bosch and Optima.

If your car battery is having trouble, AutoZone store associates can test or charge your battery for free.

When the car doesn't start because the battery fails, your commute or travel plans are put on hold. You'll have no option but to call for assistance if your battery goes dead if you are on the road. But if you are at home and can get a lift to the auto parts store, you can replace a car battery yourself.

Whether your car works as new or its lights and other electronic devices are starting to show signs of age, there is no bad time to check your battery's condition. Changing your car's battery every 2-3 years will keep it running at its best and help you avoid embarrassing roadside or car park breakdowns.

Why Your Car Battery Keeps Dying. While car batteries slowly die over time, high heat, brutal cold, excessive use of vehicle accessories (after-market equipment), and other mechanical issues can shorten the life of even the toughest battery.

The average lifespan for most alternators ranges from 80,000 and 150,000 miles. Usually, an alternator lasts about seven years.

Will a bigger battery hurt my alternator? ›

Plus, even if it physically fits in the compartment, an oversized battery could cause other issues. Manufacturers precisely match their alternators and batteries to the vehicle's power requirements. A mismatched battery/alternator combo could cause your alternator to overheat and shorten its life.

For an average-size car (this includes compact SUVs to light trucks), a 400-600 CCA jump starter should be enough. A larger truck may need more amps, maybe around 1000 CCA. The amps needed to jump-start a car will be lower than the car battery CCA.

Typically CCA numbers will be around 600 CCA for a 4-cylinder engine, 700 CCA for a 6-cylinder engine, over 750 CCA for an 8-cylinder engine and well over 800 CCA for an 8-cylinder diesel engine.

What is Considered to Be a Good CCA Rating for a Battery? A small car can be started with a battery featuring as little as 150 CCAs. Larger vehicles such as pickup trucks and SUVs will require a battery with 400 to 500 CCAs. It's possible to find batteries with CCA ratings as high as 1150.

If you live in a warm or mild climate with high temperatures, excessive CCA can increase battery wear causing it to breakdown faster. Just stick with what's recommended, and focus on reserve capacity (RC) to extend your battery's life.

What Type of Battery is Best for Cold Weather? An Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery is better for cold weather versus a standard flooded battery (or what we might classify as a “normal” car battery).

As several people have stated, no, a larger battery will not harm your alternator (or other electrical components), provided that it is putting out the correct voltage.

If you use the wrong size battery, this could cause changes in the flow of electrical currents, resulting in power surges that can damage the onboard computers or other components.

Without any unnecessary details, a car will need anywhere from 400 to 600 amps for its battery to start. However, there are cases where smaller cars only take 150 amps to get their batteries going. Larger vehicles like trucks will require much more to start –up to 2,000, to be exact.

How long do AutoZone car batteries last? ›

Most batteries last 3-4 years on average, although some do last longer. If you're having a problem, use the articles below to help identify the issue, select a replacement, and install your new battery.

Service experts estimate that you should replace your car battery every four to five years.

When you have a brand-new battery but still can't start the car, the alternator might be the issue. Cold and damp climates may increase wear on an alternator, causing it to fail. Flickering gauges and a burning rubber smell could indicate that the alternator overheated and requires replacement.

Depending on power, size, and quality, prices for a replacement car battery range from about $45 to $250. Your local dealership, auto parts store or automotive service center can check your current battery or hook you up with a new car battery.

Good and Fine: Pretty much every brand-name, "high-tier" auto parts store battery. Some examples would include Die Hard, Interstate, Super Start (O'Reilly's brand), and yes, AAA. These are perfectly adequate for most cars, can usually tolerate being jump-started a time or two, and will have a decent warranty.

When replacing the batteries, it is best to use new and unused alkaline batteries. We recommend name brand batteries, Duracell or Energizer brands are always good choices. Store brands do not operate at the same level of reliability.

How does a Costco Interstate battery differ from an Interstate battery? Costco Interstate batteries offer the same reliable power as Interstate batteries, but a different warranty program supports them.

It is always five digits and consists of two parts: A three-digit number that indicates the capacity of the battery based on the number 500 (for 12V batteries). Eg 560 means batteries with a capacity of 60 Ampere, while 600 means batteries with a capacity of 100 Ampere.

Check the Manufacturer's Label on the Battery. Usually, all the batteries have labels and other information about the battery provided by the manufacturer. Hence, if the label on the battery is still in good condition, you will be easily able to figure out the type of battery.

In general, your car will usually need a new battery after three to four years. Replacing your car battery is another part of routine maintenance. Getting your battery checked and inspected is standard for your service visits after three years, even if you haven't needed it replaced yet.

Do I need a more powerful battery for my car? ›

Is it better to get a car battery that has more than the minimum requirements for your particular car? It won't hurt your car to do so. Having a battery that has a higher CCA - Cold Cranking Amp - rating than stock for your car can help start your car more efficiently if you live and drive in cold conditions.

Using a battery with a higher CCA rating than what is recommended by the manufacturer is completely safe and won't harm your vehicle.

The four common types of batteries used in cars are lithium-ion batteries, lead acid batteries, SLI batteries and deep cycle batteries. The four common types of batteries used in cars are lithium-ion batteries, lead acid batteries, SLI batteries and deep cycle batteries.

Therefore, most mechanics will recommend that you get your battery replaced when it reaches 50% of its full capacity charge.

There is no “one-size-fits-all” battery suitable for every car. The battery type, physical size, terminal configuration, and cold cranking amps (CCA) or amp-hour (Ah) rating are all important factors that ensure the proper fit and function of a battery.

First numbers represent the amp hours: 55 = 55AH, 165 = 165AH etc. Next the letter represents the terminal size: D = standard terminal, B = small terminal, E is for long batteries like an N100, F & G is for terminals down one end like N120, N150 and N200.

The standard automotive battery in today's vehicles is a 12-volt battery. Each battery has six cells, each with 2.1 volts at full charge.