Genius Asian Replace Expensive Original Car Battery Size With A Cheaper One on Sale Price
Replace an Expensive Car Battery With a Cheaper Alternative Size
What This Video Shows
In this video I explain how I saved significant money by replacing my car battery with a different size battery than the one specified for my year, make, and model. I usually follow the book religiously when replacing car parts, always matching the exact specifications for my vehicle. But recently when my car battery died, the exact replacement for my car was priced at around 150 dollars while a slightly different size battery was on sale for about 50 dollars. I decided to investigate whether the cheaper battery would work, and it did. However, there are four critical things you absolutely must check before substituting a different battery size. First, which side are the positive and negative terminals on? The terminal positions must be compatible with your cable routing. Second, is the positive terminal closer to the left side or the right side when facing the battery? Getting this wrong means your cables may not reach. Third, are your existing battery cables long enough to reach the terminals on the differently sized battery? A battery that is slightly shorter or narrower might position the terminals in a spot your cables cannot comfortably reach. Fourth, what about the battery hold-down bracket and enclosure? Different sized batteries may not fit securely in your battery tray without modification. Beyond the physical fit, the most important specification to match is the Cold Cranking Amps or CCA rating. Make sure the replacement battery has a CCA rating equal to or greater than your original battery. CCA measures the battery’s ability to start your engine in cold conditions. Where to buy cheap batteries? Costco, Walmart, and Sears during sales all offer good value options.