Best replacement battery brands for older Accords

cameo wrote on 10/26/2014 :

You got 6 years out of the last one, why not replace it with the same?

I might if it's still available. But I still want to know if it's right match for the alternator. Just because it has worked so far, does not mean it will not ruin it soon.

There is more to that than just matching voltage. Larger capacity batteries may need more Amps to charge than lower ones. That's why alternators are matched with the batteries. Not on voltage, which is 12 V these days in all gasoline powered cars anyway. In any case, I had the battery swapped today with the same brand and model as I could not risk driving with the old one anymore. I was surprised how much its price increased over the last 6 years: almost doubled. And this was supposed to be a low inflation period, according to government inflation index.

I'm no expert, but I'd guess that's just to make sure the larger battery could be fully charged, to support larger loads, in a given amount of time. It's not really a property that large batteries need more amps or they won't charge fully or at all, not afaik.

Hah.

J.

In my limited experience, a Honda dealer sold me a Honda battery at a slightly lower installed cost than other quotes I got. Might be worth a call.

That would surprise me.

One large dealership around here is advertising $109.98. Three years ago I got one put in my accord at that place (at the time the advertised special was 79.99). Quick, easy, no hassle.

My local dealer installed a fresh-dated Honda-label battery for $69-- and ran the car through the wash rack before turning it back to me...

Just google car battery reviews, you'll probably get a million hits. Find the brand that you think has the best reviews and just get the right type specified for your vehicle.

I've alredy got the same Interstate brand, but a slightly larger capacity.

Interstate is certainly a good brand. Hope it lasts you forever (not likely, but what the heck!).

The charging current is self-limiting by design/function of the alternator.

In reality alternators are rarely required to charge from zero. If/when they are a full charge simply takes longer. Perhaps I should mention that despite the full current rating most auto alternators are not designed/intended to deliver full rated current at a 100% load.

More import is to have the alternator rated for the load the vehicle electrical system requirements plus a bit left over to top off the battery.