The Guide To Everything You Need To Know About Car Batteries

Batteries are an essential part of any vehicle. Your car will not run without one. Understanding all you can about car batteries will help keep your vehicle in good working order. You need to know what a battery is, why it is important, and how to spot when one is having trouble.

In the rest of this guide, we will give you all of that information and more. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about car batteries.

How Do Car Batteries Work?

Car batteries work on the same basic principle as any other type of battery. However, there are some crucial differences as well.

Any battery uses chemical energy to generate electricity. The chemicals used vary among battery types. Most conventional car batteries are lead-acid. This process means that lead and acid are the ingredients employed in creating the chemical reaction that generates electricity. More specifically, the acid acts as the electrolyte, and the lead acts as the anode.

Don’t worry if that explanation gets a little confusing. All you really have to know is that batteries provide electrical power to your vehicle. They do this using a chemical reaction. 

Why are Car Batteries Important?

All cars need batteries. Even if you have a conventional gas car, it will require a battery. Electric cars use slightly different batteries than traditional cars, but both vehicle types need them.

So, you may wonder why car batteries are essential to all vehicles. The battery powers the starting, lighting, and ignition in conventional cars. The battery also keeps the electric current steady, ensuring no drops or surges in power as you drive. In electric vehicles, the battery generates the electricity that actually powers the vehicle. The car will not run without a working battery in both vehicle types. 

What To Look for in a Car Battery

Clearly, there is a lot of pressure on a car’s battery to run well. As we will discuss later, when you have battery problems, you know it. Therefore, you need to pick the best battery available for your vehicle.

If you need help with this process, contact Ethan’s Honest Automotive. Our professionals are happy to walk you through the various battery options for your car.

Here are a few things to pay attention to when choosing your car battery:

Type-Lead acid is the most common traditional car battery. However, there are other types to choose from as well. For your gas-powered car, you may want to consider an absorbed glass mat (AGM) battery or an enhanced flooded battery (EFB). AGM and EFB batteries offer an extended lifespan and more power in certain conditions. Your mechanic can help you choose the option that is right for your vehicle.

Electric vehicles can use either nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) or lithium-ion batteries. The two types of batteries for electric cars are most often not interchangeable. You will need to read your user’s manual to discover which option your vehicle needs. 

Group Size-If you are replacing your car’s battery, you will need to know your previous battery’s group size. Manufacturers categorize batteries by size, and you need to purchase the correct size to ensure the battery case fits and the terminals line up properly. 

Cold-Cranking Amps-Cold-cranking amps are a measurement. It describes the amount of energy your battery provides for 30 seconds at a specific temperature. If you live in a cold climate, such as the Cache Valley, then you need a battery with a higher number. 

How Long Do Car Batteries Last?

The lifespan of your car battery will depend on its type. In general, you can expect the following:

• Lead-Acid: Three years
• EFB: Four years
• AGM: Five years
• NiMH: Five years
• Lithium-ion: Five years

Factors That Contribute to a Battery’s Lifespan

The lifespans listed in the previous section are the lengths of battery life guaranteed by the manufacturers. You may actually get a bit more life out of your battery. You just need to take care of it properly.

The following factors contribute to a battery’s lifespan. If these issues occur, your battery may have a shortened life. However, if you have your mechanic, like those at Ethan’s Honest Automotive, regularly check for these issues, you might be able to extend your battery’s life.

• Charging system problems.
• Terminal connection issues
• Interior lights or headlights left on
• Car not driven for long intervals
• Extreme temperatures

 Signs of a Battery Problem

Because the battery is such an important part of your vehicle, you can tell when it is struggling. The signs are not subtle.

If you experience the following issues, you may have a problem with your battery.

• No starting even if the engine cranks
• Engine slow to start
• Engine cuts out suddenly
• Dim or no lights
• Radio will not work
• Seeing the battery light on your dashboard

Once you pinpoint a problem with your battery, you should immediately take your vehicle to a mechanic. You will likely need to replace your battery. However, there may be other issues that the mechanic can help diagnose that will fix the problems. 

Why Choose Ethan’s For Your Car Battery Needs?

At Ethan’s Honest Automotive, we are battery maintenance and repair experts. Our brake service is the best in SE Idaho and the Cache Valley. Our professionals are qualified to work on all vehicles, no matter the make or model. We can also work on foreign and domestic cars.

Choose Ethan’s Honest Automotive because of our expertise and our reputation for honesty. When you bring your vehicle to us, we will only recommend services that your vehicle needs. It is right there in our core values. We are dedicated to relationships first, family, integrity & honesty, excellence, learning and growing, community involvement, and charity & consideration.

Contact Ethan’s Honest Automotive today and learn how we can keep your battery and vehicle running in tip-top shape.

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