Need a new car battery? It may cost you more than you think

[canada-man]

TORONTO -- New vehicles are more advanced, high-tech and expensive and that is now also true of many newer car batteries.

The traditional battery used in most vehicles up until recently is a lead-acid or ‘flooded’ battery, but many new cars now come with AGM or ‘absorbed glass mat’ battery.

The cost?


While you may get a replacement lead battery in the $100 range, an AGM type battery can cost you up to $300 or more.

“AGMS use a glass mat separator to allow the electrolyte solution to move between the thin battery plates, it makes them well-suited to repeated draining and recharging,” according to Jennifer Stockburger an auto expert with Consumer Reports.

Automakers are using these new more expensive batteries because high-tech vehicles need more electrical power.

"Cars need more and more electric power to operate features like today’s stop-start technology, safety and convenience features, and all the additional power outlets that charge our device,s” according to Stockburger.

A car battery should last about five years, but there are many factors that can affect their life span.

Consumer Reports advises that if you need a battery consider buying one at a big box store to save money. Some auto parts stores may even install it for you.

"Make sure you know the correct size of your battery. You can find it on the battery that’s in your car, in your owners manual, at the store, or searching online by entering your cars make and model," according Jeff Bartlett, Consumer Reports Auto Editor.

If you're not sure how old your battery is there should be a stamped date code when it was manufactured on the battery.

You can also have the battery tested at your auto shop to see if it's running low, and if it is, you can replace it before you get stranded.

While it used to be fairly straight forward to change a battery yourself, it is now getting more complicated. Depending on where the battery is an auto shop may charge you $25 for a simple install or $100 or more for a more complex installation.

Need a new car battery? It may cost you more than you think | CTV News

 

[Goodoer]

A $200 difference in price is peanuts in terms of owning a car. AGM all the way if you can do it or if you go off-road. It all depends on how you deplete your battery.

Replace any 5-Year battery before you get to 5 years - definitely do not go into a Winter if you're on Year 4. Adjust the math if you buy a shitty 3-Year battery.

Batteries are easy to replace. I've yet to encounter a car where it is difficult. Bring some tools (10mm wrench and socket/ratchet) to Canadian Tire and do it in the parking lot with your flip flops on (as you're replacing before Winter). Take the old battery back on the spot. Impress the single moms with your skills as their boyfriends or children's father are assholes for not doing it.

Own a boat? You're looking at 3-5 batteries to make that sucker work.

 

[zigma99]

the price difference is not much at Costco
I recently bought the energizer AGM for my car

 

[Scorpio1971]

TORONTO -- New vehicles are more advanced, high-tech and expensive and that is now also true of many newer car batteries.

The traditional battery used in most vehicles up until recently is a lead-acid or ‘flooded’ battery, but many new cars now come with AGM or ‘absorbed glass mat’ battery.

The cost?


While you may get a replacement lead battery in the $100 range, an AGM type battery can cost you up to $300 or more.

“AGMS use a glass mat separator to allow the electrolyte solution to move between the thin battery plates, it makes them well-suited to repeated draining and recharging,” according to Jennifer Stockburger an auto expert with Consumer Reports.

Automakers are using these new more expensive batteries because high-tech vehicles need more electrical power.

"Cars need more and more electric power to operate features like today’s stop-start technology, safety and convenience features, and all the additional power outlets that charge our device,s” according to Stockburger.

A car battery should last about five years, but there are many factors that can affect their life span.

Consumer Reports advises that if you need a battery consider buying one at a big box store to save money. Some auto parts stores may even install it for you.

"Make sure you know the correct size of your battery. You can find it on the battery that’s in your car, in your owners manual, at the store, or searching online by entering your cars make and model," according Jeff Bartlett, Consumer Reports Auto Editor.

If you're not sure how old your battery is there should be a stamped date code when it was manufactured on the battery.

You can also have the battery tested at your auto shop to see if it's running low, and if it is, you can replace it before you get stranded.

While it used to be fairly straight forward to change a battery yourself, it is now getting more complicated. Depending on where the battery is an auto shop may charge you $25 for a simple install or $100 or more for a more complex installation.

Need a new car battery? It may cost you more than you think | CTV News

Call CAA I paid 235 installed

 

[GameBoy27]

Bring some tools (10mm wrench and socket/ratchet) to Canadian Tire and do it in the parking lot with your flip flops on (as you're replacing before Winter). Take the old battery back on the spot.

First mistake is buying a Canadian Tire battery. They're hands down the worst. I've always had good luck with Kirkland (Costco) batteries.

 

[Jenesis]

A $200 difference in price is peanuts in terms of owning a car. AGM all the way if you can do it or if you go off-road. It all depends on how you deplete your battery.

Replace any 5-Year battery before you get to 5 years - definitely do not go into a Winter if you're on Year 4. Adjust the math if you buy a shitty 3-Year battery.

Batteries are easy to replace. I've yet to encounter a car where it is difficult. Bring some tools (10mm wrench and socket/ratchet) to Canadian Tire and do it in the parking lot with your flip flops on (as you're replacing before Winter). Take the old battery back on the spot. Impress the single moms with your skills as their boyfriends or children's father are assholes for not doing it.

Own a boat? You're looking at 3-5 batteries to make that sucker work.

Check a Dodge Journey for battery location. Tel me what that guy was smoking when he designed the engine.

 

[GameBoy27]

Check a Dodge Journey for battery location. Tel me what that guy was smoking when he designed the engine.

Not surprising, it's a Dodge after all.

Japanese for design, build quality and longevity.

 

[21 Days Later]

Not surprising, it's a Dodge after all.

Japanese for design, build quality and longevity.

What police vehicles in the world are Japanese? They're good for you. The Ford Crown Victoria police and civi version for that matter were better than camry or accord.

 

[GameBoy27]

What police vehicles in the world are Japanese? They're good for you. The Ford Crown Victoria police and civi version for that matter were better than camry or accord.

The choice of Police vehicles has nothing to do with reliability. It's actually a safety issue. Camry and Accord are FWD vehicles. Police cars in North America are typically RWD or AWD for stability. They often carry a lot of heavy equipment in the trunk which can make them unstable at higher speeds. Weighing down the rear end of a FWD car greatly reduces the front end grip and can induce unwanted understeer. It's also what police officers of all stripes say they prefer. The body-on-frame is important too because many PDs (probably more in the US) have their own frame-straighteners, and can fix a Crown Vic within days after it has been used to stop, say, a runaway Camry. They also replace them every year or two, so long-term reliability isn't a factor.

 

[John Wick]

In Canada, the standards for police cruiser vehicles is typically the Dodge Charger Enforcer V8 AWD or Chevy Tahoe 4WD. Toronto-specific uses Ford Taurus and Ford Explorers

 

[anon1]

What police vehicles in the world are Japanese? They're good for you. The Ford Crown Victoria police and civi version for that matter were better than camry or accord.

A quick tour of the police vehicles of Japan

Black-and-white Crowns, kei vans and a Subaru Chiffon

www.autoweek.com

Police cars by country - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org

 

[21 Days Later]

The choice of Police vehicles has nothing to do with reliability. It's actually a safety issue. Camry and Accord are FWD vehicles. Police cars in North America are typically RWD or AWD for stability. They often carry a lot of heavy equipment in the trunk which can make them unstable at higher speeds. Weighing down the rear end of a FWD car greatly reduces the front end grip and can induce unwanted understeer. It's also what police officers of all stripes say they prefer. The body-on-frame is important too because many PDs (probably more in the US) have their own frame-straighteners, and can fix a Crown Vic within days after it has been used to stop, say, a runaway Camry. They also replace them every year or two, so long-term reliability isn't a factor.

Reliability is paramount combined with safety and functionality in a police car. In 2011 the Crown Victoria was about to be retired. That year TPS bought 300 to stockpile for the future and stored many of them on the roof on a building just south of liberty village. Here's video of typicality daily. Tools that dont just fade into getting your job done aren't tolorated in any profession. Camrys and accords would be problems for more than civi drivers like gameboys.

A lot of them are still in service that were purchased; many others out of TPS service are being driven by civies today.

 

[21 Days Later]

If your car came with a flooded lead acid battery don't waste your money on an absorbed glass mat replacement.

 

[GameBoy27]

Reliability is paramount combined with safety and functionality in a police car. In 2011 the Crown Victoria was about to be retired. That year TPS bought 300 to stockpile for the future and stored many of them on the roof on a building just south of liberty village. Here's video of typicality daily. Tools that dont just fade into getting your job done aren't tolorated in any profession. Camrys and accords would be problems for more than civi drivers like gameboys. A lot of them are still in service that were purchased; many others out of TPS service are being driven by civies today.

Police use primarily RWD vehicles, especially when they're used as pursuit/interceptor vehicles. Camry and Civic are FWD.

Besides, my original comment was "Japanese for design, build quality and longevity" and had nothing to do with Police vehicles. It's a fact, Japanese cars are far more reliable than American cars. But if you want to drive a big heavy Crown Vic, then go right ahead.