Your dead battery

Your dead battery
Benoit Charette


 
Your dead battery
Your battery has just left the soul. You need to buy a new one. You are inexperienced, here are some tips. There are a number of parameters to consider when purchasing a replacement

1- The power

The values ​​are usually indicated on the sidewall. For example: 210 A, 65 Ah. 210 is the maximum current that the shorted battery can deliver. 65 Ah (ampere-hours) indicates the power, or an intensity of 65 amps for one hour. When installing a new battery, be sure to adhere to these values. Too low a battery will fail to power the starter in cold weather. Another too powerful is more expensive, more powerful, therefore better for starting. Unfortunately, the alternator will not be able to quickly recharge the battery if the conditions are unfavorable (short trips, for example).

2- The dimension

Depending on its capacity, the size of the battery varies. The builders therefore design a tray, intended to accommodate it. The new battery must therefore enter this container, on your car.

3- His age

To find out the age of a battery, look on the packaging or on the battery as appropriate, there is a bar code, the information you are looking for is in the first two symbols. The first symbol is a letter A for January, B for February and so on, the second symbol is a number 16 for 2016, 17 for 2017. So if you have A6 your battery was made in January 2006. A new battery should be inspected periodically in the same way as the fluid or oil levels, i.e. once a month. Most batteries are maintenance free, for others the water level should be checked and added as needed, preferably distilled water which does not contain mineral deposits. Make sure you have a pair of jumper cables in the trunk if the battery drains.