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Car Battery

Car Battery
Short & Sweet

car batteryPurpose:

1. Starting the car

2. Emergency power source

3. Back-up energy storage

Symptoms:

Here are some signs that your battery may need to be replaced:

1. The car is slow to start and the engine cranks slowly when you turn the key.

2. The car battery loses its charge within a day or two of being fully recharged.

3. You only hear clicking when you turn your key and your car will not start.

Care & Repair:

If your car battery is dead, try to jumpstart your car. If it works – great – stop by any auto service or parts provider, most places will test your battery for free!

Cost: $50-$150

NOTE: When you get your battery replaced, about 50% of the time, within 6 months, your alternator will also need replaced.

Purpose

Like you, the car battery is a master multi-tasker! The car battery is responsible for providing the power to start your car, emergency power if the alternator fails, and storing a back-up energy supply.

Symptoms

Here are some signs that your battery may need to be replaced:

1. The car is slow to start and the engine cranks slowly when you turn the key:

This is the first sign that your car battery is starting to go. You may notice this symptom for several days before your battery loses enough power to require a jump-start or replacement.

2. The battery loses its charge within a day or two of being fully recharged:

If the battery can no longer hold a charge after extensive driving or using a charging device, it may be at the end of its life. Most batteries have a lifespan of 4-5 years. So, if you don’t ever remember replacing it, it’s probably time.

3. You only hear clicking when you turn your key and your car will not start:

Most of the time, even if your radio and other electronics are working, your battery will need to be replaced. It takes considerably more power to turn the engine over than it does to run the interior lights, even if you have some juice left in the battery your car may not start.

4. Your car battery needs to be jump started after using it briefly:

If you leave your flashers or lights on for 10 minutes and you need to jump-start your car, it’s probably time for a new battery.

Care & Repair

Just because your car battery is dead, doesn’t mean it needs to be replaced. You may have a bad battery or it may just be a loose or corroded cable connection. If you can jump-start your vehicle, stop off at the auto parts store to have them check your connection and your battery for free. If both are good, then recharge your battery.

You can purchase a battery charger at any tool store, such as Sears, Auto Zone, or Walmart, from $20-$100. The car battery charger connects to your battery posts and plugs into a wall outlet. It charges your battery and is the best way to do so. (This tool is not the same as a jumper pack, which is used to jumpstart a car, NOT charge your battery). You may have heard that driving your car around the block a few times will recharge your battery. This is because you are attempting to recharge with your alternator, but this tactic is risky. Unless you are going to be driving for over two hours on the highway after jump starting your vehicle– don’t be too shocked if it is dead again in the grocery store parking lot.

car battery posts

tipiconTIP: If your battery’s posts are corroded, you can pour baking soda and water on them and it will look better, but it isn’t really doing much good.  You really need to take the battery apart for the cleaning to make a difference in how the battery runs.  Cleaning the outside might make you feel better, but that’s about it.

NOTE: When you get your car battery replaced, about 50% of the time, within 6 months, your alternator will also need replaced.

Cost

tipiconTIP: Most places that sell batteries will test your battery for free to make sure that you need a new one. There are some places such as Advance Auto Parts that will also put the battery in for you, you will only pay the price of the actual battery.

New Car Battery: $50-$150

Battery Charger: $20-$100

Portable Battery Jumpstart Pack: $50-$300

Jumper Cables: $8-$30

Baking Soda: $1

 

 

 

 

 

About The Author

Pedals and Pumps

PedalsandPumps provides direct, honest information about car maintenance and repair. We provide money and time saving tips for readers who want to maximize their dollar and simplify their auto owning experience.

TIP:

If you have lost a cap on your tire inflation valve, mention it at your next oil change and the technician will probably replace it for your for free. More ways to tell if you have a tire pressure issue.

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