Your Nissan Altima has a solid reputation as a practical car with a high safety rating, a roomy interior, and exceptional fuel economy. Whether it’s your family car or commuter vehicle, you need to know that it’s dependable for handling the daily drive. Having a high-quality car battery ensures that you get consistent startup and power with each turn of the ignition key. A few fast tips can help you shop for the best Nissan Altima batteries.
Know What’s Under Your Hood
Fuel and power are two essentials that keep your Altima running. When your battery starts to fail, it can produce several telltale warning signs:
- Dim headlights
- Slow-cranking
- Clicking sound with ignition key turns
- Gas pedal needed to start the vehicle
- Backfiring
- Check engine light
Batteries eventually die out, but a high-quality model gives you the longest possible life. Before you go shopping, you can check your Altima’s owner manual for precise part numbers and battery specs. They may also be listed on the battery that’s currently installed, especially if it’s the OEM version typical installed with your specific make and model. For instance, 2018 Altima models use batteries with OEM part number 24410-JA10B.
Select the Right Battery
Before you shop, you should pay attention to two battery specs: cold-cranking amps and reserve capacity. Cold-cranking amps, or CCA, refers to how much power the battery can generate when starting up in cold weather. Reserve capacity is the number of minutes a battery can be discharged at 25 amps and maintain at least 10.5 volts at 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
These measurements are good baseline figures to remember when you go battery shopping. Most auto parts retailers make the search easy by offering year, make, model, submodel and engine type drop-down menus. These ensure that you’re only shown a selection of batteries that properly fit your vehicle. From there, your typical power needs must dictate what you buy. If you’re only commuting in a base model with no extras, a standard battery should work perfectly well. For advanced vehicles with infotainment systems and added accessories, you may want to opt for a premium model with higher cold-cranking amps and reserve capacities.
Keep Your Battery in Good Condition
Most Altima models are either family or commuter vehicles. However, their batteries may face significant power demands from aftermarket accessories with potentially high power draws vacuums, alarm systems, coolers, and additional lighting. These are usually more of a problem with off-roaders, truck owners or other types of leisure drivers, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Most modern vehicle batteries are easy to care for, but you do need to inspect them regularly. Extremely hot weather, faulty alternator components and the build-up of dirt, grease, and corrosion can also weaken batteries and shorten their lifespan. Be sure to have your battery tested at least twice a year and make regular visual checks for debris, corrosion and damage to the case.
Choose a Trusted Retailer
For batteries, air filters, motor oil or other essentials, it’s wise to shop a trustworthy auto parts retailer. Select a dealer with an extensive product selection, convenient shipping options, and good customer service.
