Olga Nagornyuk
A failed and non-recoverable battery (ACB) makes it impossible to operate the car and forces you to look for a replacement. What parameters should I pay attention to when buying a battery? Our tips are designed to help beginners who encounter this problem for the first time.
When to change the battery
The average service life of a car battery, subject to proper operation and timely maintenance, is 3-5 years. You will know that your battery has served its purpose when:
- the battery stops holding a charge. If the battery is almost completely discharged overnight, then it has expired. The battery charge indicator will help track this moment;
- the battery is not charged either while driving or from a special device;
- the battery shows signs of mechanical damage: case cracks, traces of leaked liquid, etc.
Only a specialist can give a conclusion about the unsuitability of the battery for further operation, therefore, before sending the battery to rest, have it tested at a service station (if you are dealing with a serviced battery). Perhaps it is subject to restoration and is able to serve an additional year and a half.
How to choose the right battery
If the service station decided that it was impossible to restore the battery, then it was time to look for a new one. By what criteria should you choose a battery in order to ultimately get the best option that would suit both you and your car?
Capacity
This indicator can be found in the car's instruction manual or, if it is lost, on the website of the community of owners of this vehicle model. Another way is to look at an old battery, but you need to be sure that it was a perfect fit for your car.
When choosing a battery, you must not deviate from the capacity set by the manufacturer. Buying a battery with a capacity higher than indicated in the user manual, you risk getting a regular undercharge of the battery. The generator simply will not have time to charge it while driving. A smaller capacity is fraught with a quick failure of the battery.
Capacitance is measured in ampere-hours (Ah) and directly depends on the power of the engine.
Starting current
Designed to start a cold engine, this indicator must correspond to the numbers recommended by the manufacturer and contained in the car's operating instructions. A battery with a starting current higher than necessary will lead to a breakdown of the starter, a lower one will cause problems with starting the engine.
Terminal polarity
Pay attention to whether the location of the "+" and "-" icons on the battery corresponds to their placement on the car. Otherwise, the length of standard power wires to connect the battery may not be enough.
Dimensions. Using a tape measure, measure the height, length, and width of the new battery and either compare them with those of the old battery, or estimate whether your purchase will fit into the space allotted for it in the car.
Pay attention to the way the battery is attached to your car.
The battery you buy must match it.
Date of issue
Data on the date of issue and service life are indicated on the battery case. Experts recommend purchasing batteries that have been manufactured for no more than 3 months. Then you can count on receiving a product whose technical characteristics correspond to those stated in the instructions.
Keep in mind: the battery life does not start from the moment it is installed on the car, but from the day it is released.
Battery category
All batteries are divided into 3 types, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages:
- serviced (collapsible). The oldest type of batteries, which can be visually distinguished by the presence of screw caps on the top panel that cover the openings of cans with electrolyte.
The disadvantages of collapsible batteries include their need for regular maintenance (electrolyte level control) and a short service life (twice as short as other batteries). The advantages are resistance to deep charge, the possibility of recovery (repair) and low price;
- unattended. These batteries have a sealed case with no filling holes. Such devices do not need regular topping up of water and exclude liquid leakage. Their undoubted advantage is the longest service life among all batteries, averaging 5 years.
This is where their advantages end and their disadvantages begin. Due to the impossibility of access to the internal contents, the repair of such batteries is impossible. They are susceptible to low temperatures, and therefore in cold climates their life expectancy is drastically reduced. In addition, maintenance-free batteries are the most expensive of all types of batteries on the market today;
- low-maintenance. Transitional option between serviced and maintenance-free batteries. The average price, decent service life (about 3 years) and the possibility of repair make these batteries the most in demand.
Like collapsible car batteries, they require constant monitoring of the liquid level in the banks and are resistant to fast charges, but they last about 1.0-1.5 years more.
Checking the battery upon purchase
When buying a new battery for a car, pay attention to some of the nuances that will help you avoid purchasing a fake or defective product:
- the presence on the battery of information about the country of origin and the name of the manufacturer;
- complete with any car battery must be a technical passport;
- the absence of defects and mechanical damage on the battery case;
- output terminals must be smooth.
If you do not observe any of the above in the battery you are purchasing, it is likely that you have a fake in front of you. Buying a used battery will cost about 20% less than a new one. Want to earn more? Save on petrol.
In order not to get a battery that will die for a long time on the second day of operation, do not lose sight of the following:
- the surface of the battery case must be smooth, without bulges and cracks;
- the presence of stains on the terminals from the oxidation of contacts is an indirect evidence of wear and tear of the device;
- calculate how much time has passed since the release of the device (the date is indicated on the case) and whether its service life will end in a month;
- The price of a used battery cannot be half the price of a new one. The maximum difference usually does not exceed 30%.
car battery rating
1. Bosch
On the domestic market, there are batteries labeled with a German brand, but made in China. True, the quality does not suffer from this. Bosch batteries have high starting current and are easy to maintain.
2. Varta
On the shelves of our stores you will find batteries from this German manufacturer, manufactured at factories in Russia and the Czech Republic. Not much inferior to Bosch batteries, they are more affordable.
3. Mutlu
The batteries of the Turkish manufacturer, which has been producing batteries since 1945, are characterized by good tolerance to low temperatures and excellent quality.
4. Titan (Ukraine) and "Tyumen" (Russia)
Under these brands, budget battery options are produced that have proven themselves well in service.
How to Extend Battery Life
Having become the owner of a new car battery, make sure that it lasts you as long as possible:
- keep in mind that in cold weather, the battery has to work with a double load, since more energy is required to start the crankshaft at low temperatures. If it was not possible to start the first time, a second attempt should be made after at least 3 minutes: you need to give time to the electrolyte thickened from the cold to come into contact with the plates;
- when dealing with a serviced battery, it is necessary to check the electrolyte level weekly;
- watch the degree of tension of the drive belt, otherwise you are threatened with a weak recharging of the battery and a reduction in its service life;
- after driving on a new battery for a year, start monitoring the level of its charge. A half-discharged battery must be removed and recharged;
- before the onset of cold weather, change the oil to a more liquid one (winter version), which does not freeze or thicken under the conditions of our harsh winters;
- in severe frosts, before starting the car engine, it is advisable to warm up the battery by turning on the high beam headlights. Accelerate the oil with short starts of the starter and only then start the engine.
Proper operation is the key to the long life of your iron horse. In this article, we talked about the selection criteria and proper care of the battery, and in the article "Prolonging the life of car tires" you will find out what factors affect the life of tires.
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