Are your lights getting dimmer? Do you struggle to get your car started? Or is your Stop & Go system playing up? These are all telltale signs that your car battery needs to be changed.
Car batteries are the lifeblood of your vehicle. They power the starter motor, lights, radio, air conditioning, and other systems. Trust us, if your car battery dies, you won’t be going anywhere fast.
When was the last time you had your battery checked?
If it’s been a while between renewals it’s a good idea to take a trip to your local mechanic sooner rather than later.
But what should you look for in a car battery? What’s involved in a battery service and replacement? And where can you book your car in locally?
In this article we cover all these questions and more.
How to make the most out of your battery life.
We recommend some simple maintenance advice to care for your battery, to maximise its operational life and reduce the likelihood of non-warranty issues which may affect battery life.
This includes:
- Having the charge rate checked during every major service or at least every 6 months. This is because both undercharging and overcharging will reduce your battery’s life.
- When your vehicle is driven infrequently or only in short trips it is likely that the battery will gradually discharge over time. In these circumstances it is prudent to charge your vehicle battery regularly using appropriate battery charging equipment.
- A maintenance battery charger is highly recommended to keep the battery operating at optimum capacity.
What to look for in a car battery?
Here are some of the critical factors you should consider when replacing your car battery. If you are unsure of the requirements in any of these areas, check your vehicle manual or talk to your friendly local JAX mechanic for recommendations.
Here are the top things to consider when replacing your car battery:
Vehicle Battery freshness:
Since batteries start decaying from the moment they are manufactured, you want your battery to be as new as possible. Before purchasing, look for the manufacture date stuck on the case. Try to buy a battery that is no more than six months old.
Vehicle Battery Reserve Capacity
This refers to the amount of time that the battery will run on its own power without the help of the engine or before discharge. Having a high reserve capacity is helpful for vehicles who find themselves in challenging situations like a non-compliant engine, alternator failure or when you leave the lights on accidentally. Don’t worry, we have all been there.
Vehicle Battery Warranties:
JAX Tyres and Auto locations stock Atomic Batteries supplied by Club Assist. Your battery is secure with a 2-year warranty from the date of purchase, for all manufacturing defects (Warranty). The Atomic battery is supplied by JAX, and its warranty is provided by Club Assist Pty Ltd trading as Atomic Batteries. In the unlikely event you need to make a claim on your battery, you may the full details of your warranty are available here. Note; The battery must be provided to Club Assist for assessment.
If your battery was purchased at a JAX store, our team can arrange battery testing and provide results if it tests as failed. If the battery has failed during testing, our store will assist in making a warranty claim with Club Assist directly. During this time, you may be required to purchase a replacement battery while the claim process takes place.
If your battery was purchased at another retailer, our JAX team will arrange to test and provide you with a battery report for your claim. You will need to contact the original retailer or follow the steps here to submit a warranty claim through Club Assist. We cannot facilitate the claims process for batteries purchased outside of JAX.
If your battery was purchased at a JAX store and has tested as failed by another provider, please follow the steps here to submit a warranty claim through Club Assist. We cannot facilitate the claims process for batteries tested outside of JAX.
Alternatively, you can return to a JAX store and we can assist in re-testing and next steps with your claim.
Find car Batteries near me
Do you have a flat battery?
Not confident about your car’s battery?
Find your nearest JAX Tyres & Auto store to check your battery and fit you with the correct replacement. Our team is happy to help with all your car battery needs.
As THE experts in all things motor and tyres, we can help you keep your car safe, running efficiently, and create the most enjoyable driving experience for you.
Click here to find your nearest JAX store for a car battery.
A car battery capacity is given in Amps Hours (Ah). It describes how many Amps (A) batteries can provide for 20 hours before the voltage drops below a certain level, usually down to 10.5-10.8 volts. If you drain the battery below this voltage point, you can easily cause permanent damage to the battery and will have to get it replaced.
The number of amp-hours (Ah), or “amp hours” in short, represents the amount of energy that your vehicle’s battery can store. The more Amp Hours you have, the longer your battery will hold a charge and the better it will run.
For example, a fully charged 12V battery at 80°F (~25°C) delivers for 20 hours before its voltage falls below 10.5V.
Typical car batteries feature nominal capacity in the 50-100 Ah range, with large diesel-powered trucks often having 100+ Ah batteries.
Hot Cranking Amps (HCA) is the maximum current value that a new, fully charged, 12V battery can deliver for 30 seconds, with the voltage NOT dropping below 7.2V, at 80°F (27°C).
The manufacturer determines the battery's Hot Cranking Amps (HCA) value. Still, most manufacturers state that this number should be no less than 100% of the battery’s nominal capacity. You can find your battery’s HCA on the battery itself.
