Happy 2012, Readers! I pray that your Christmas and New Year celebrations were filled with all of the joy (and very little of the stress and drama) that this time of year brings.
But, stress and drama may very well be lurking on your horizon, if you haven't given your vehicle its due TLC (that's "tender, loving care", not the former singing group). As this post's title states, you need to check your vehicle's battery. If the charge (power level) on it is too low, you will have some rough days ahead - in the form of 'slow starts' and eventually 'no starts'. If this is your idea of a fun adventure on a morning that you are already rushed or running late, please raise your hand. Anyone, anyone?
Even though I can't exactly see you, Readers, I'm willing to wager that not one of you raised your hand. Despite my - at times - odd sense of 'adventure', I didn't raise my hand either. I'm glad we agree! So, how do we avoid these non-adventures? You do the following three things:
1. Look up what your auto's "OE CCA" rating is. You will find this in the owner's manual, on the battery itself (hopefully it's the factory one, otherwise double-check the spec's), or at your quality parts store when they look up a replacement for you.
NOTE: The "OE" stands for "Original Equipment", or the company that made your auto (e.g. Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, etc.). The "CCA" stands for "Cold Cranking Amps", which is the raw power capacity of a battery at 0°F.
2. Have your battery tested to verify what CCA's it is actually producing. Many businesses (repair shops, oil change outfits, parts stores, etc.) offer this service as a 'courtesy' (read: FREE) to customers, so don't be afraid to ask. Just be sure to ask them to provide you with the actual results, so you see first hand how strong or weak your battery is.
3. Compare #2's results to what your vehicle requires (from #1). You want #2 to be *significantly* HIGHER than #1... if it isn't, your battery is due to be replaced. Why? Because the current battery has become a weakling overtime, and 'Murphy's Law' will apply very soon. Picture your battery finally screaming in a Scottish brogue, "I cahn't du'it, Cahp'n... I need more power!"
If a new battery is in your near future, I want to make a very clear point on something. I know first hand what a rotten economy we still have. Money doesn't grow on trees... I get that. Which is why I want you to be sure that the battery you purchase, will actually live up to the honor of serving you the way that it should. In a nutshell: Compare the CCA of any replacement battery offered, to the OE CCA for your vehicle!
All too often, a customer will insist on getting the 'cheapest battery that will fit'. Batteries are identified by "BCI Group Code", which classifies batteries based on their footprint (length x width), height, and terminal type (top, side or 'dual' - which is a combo). So, sure a 'cheaper' version of the same battery will 'fit' - but only size-wise. Cheaper batteries have a shorter warranty period for a reason: They lack the extra power capacity that the ones with longer warranties possess. For true purchase satisfaction, make sure the BCI number *and* the CCA rating match your OE spec's!
As an aside...
No, Readers, you are not imagining things. I did manage three different movie references in this post: The title was inspired by a scene in Sister Act I. There was a nod to Ben Stein's character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. And - of course - the trekker/trekkie in me couldn't resist the Scotty quote. :-)
Until we meet again, remember to take care of your vehicle only as well and for as long, as you want it to take care of you.
PPM
