How to Shop for a Car Battery in Baltimore, MD

At Heritage Volkswagen Parkville, our customers enjoy a broad selection of pre-owned and new Volkswagen models near Essex, MD, including well-established vehicles like the Volkswagen Passat and the Volkswagen Beetle. We pride ourselves not only on our inventory, but also our first-rate customer service, our after-sale support, and our knowledgeable team of automotive experts. Our VW team knows Volkswagen models inside and out, including know-how regarding your car battery. The battery provides your vehicle with electric energy. Its primary purpose is to start the engine, at which point the vehicle's power derives from the alternator. When it comes to ensuring your battery is in good shape, we're a Maryland Volkswagen dealer  that drivers trust.

Basic Information about Car Batteries

Whether you drive a truck in Towson, MD or an SUV in Parkville, MD, there's one thing these vehicles have in common: the need for a properly working battery. Consider the battery as the vehicle's "heart":  it provides the electricity that all of your vehicle's electrical components need. And just as the human body can't function without a heart, an automobile can't run on a dead battery. Car batteries may be small, but they deliver big-time power. In layman's terms, a battery works by converting chemical energy (contained within the battery) into electrical energy, which it sends to the starter to get your vehicle running. The battery's other important job is to regulate the vehicle's electric current and keep the engine running. The average battery last 3 - 5 years, but weather conditions and driving habits can reduce your battery's lifespan.

Visit our 9215 Harford Road Volkswagen dealership in Baltimore, MD today and we'll be happy to evaluate your battery's condition and remaining lifetime!

How to Choose a Battery

The five most important factors in choosing a car battery are size, age, cold-cranking amps (CCA), brand, and reserve capacity (RC). RC represents the battery's "standing power", which is the amount of time the battery can run your vehicle if the fan belt or alternator fail. The higher the RC rating, the longer your vehicle can operate on battery power alone. CCA relates to the battery's ability to start your car in frigid weather. In freezing conditions, an automobile is harder to start because all of the internal chemical reactions slow down. Just like with RC, the higher the battery's CCA rating is, the better it will perform in cold weather. At the first sign of battery trouble, i.e. the engine is cranking slowly, the battery fluid level is low, or the "check engine" light is on, we recommend visiting our Parkville, MD Volkswagen dealership to confirm whether your car needs a new battery.

The experts at our Volkswagen dealership serving Towson, MD are ready to assist with all of your battery-related needs!

Heritage Volkswagen Parkville, a Volkswagen dealership serving the greater Baltimore, MD area, looks forward to sharing our know-how with customers throughout Maryland. When it comes to your car battery, you can never be too careful - that's why we recommend checking your battery regularly at our VW dealership and relying on our advice for when it's time to buy a new battery. We'll help you find the battery that works best for your VW vehicle!