Basic Battery Information

 

 

How a Battery Works
A battery stores energy in chemical form that can be released on demand as electricity. This electrical power is used by the car’s ignition system for cranking the engine. The car’s battery also may power the lights and other accessories. Should the alternator or fan belt fail, the battery might also need to power the vehicle’s entire electrical system for a short period of time.
Three things to consider when buying a battery
  1. Size: what are the dimensions of your original equipment battery? The Battery Council International (BCI) uses a two or three digit number to identify the height, length, width and shape of original equipment sizes
  2. Power: What are the Cold Cranking Amp (CCA) requirements for your vehicle? The power a battery can deliver decreases as the temperature gets colder. Batteries are rated at 0 degrees F. Using this rating for comparison, the higher the number, the greater the starting power of the battery.
  3. Warranty: Automotive batteries are typically backed by limited warranties. These Warranties generally include both free replacement and proration periods. You should look for warranties with the longest free replacement period.