Regarding the DIY of replacing your battery - disposal. Technically, an old car battery is hazardous waste and must be disposed of properly (not dumped in the household trash). Having AAA take care of you also takes care of this aspect.
This isn’t that hard - just bring the old battery in when you buy the new one, pay the environmental fee and let the shop dispose of it.
Sure, it’s not hard - just one more thing to consider in the convenience/cost calculation of using AAA.
What’s with the current negative attitude. I find it revolting.
Anyhoo, the garage told my wife her battery was low on the CCAs, but to her, it started just fine. I warned her that even though it starts now, it’ll die unexpectedly at some point. She got by for almost a year, then I get the call at work: “My car won’t start and I’m stuck at the gas station, blocking the pumps.”
I jumped the car, went to the auto parts store, and we have a new battery installed, old one taken away, in like 20 minutes. Of course I missed like 2 hours of work…
In PA, I was unable to purchase a battery recently without having a trade in (or paying a fee). I was buying one for a boat, didn’t have an old one, and wasn’t in a hurry. I found a friend with an ancient dead battery in his garage and used it as a trade.
Did you know it’s actually possible to have a battery fail while the car is running, and fail in a way that shorts the electrical system? That happened to me last time my battery died. Car started up fine, drove for an hour, then completely died.
Since then, I’m much more willing to replace a battery before it’s 100% dead. I don’t like the idea of completely losing power on the 101 in LA traffic.
I had a Ford Taurus X (van). The battery died. I just went in to lossen the strap holding it down. The screw post was difficult and it took a while before I was comfortable giving it a bit more torque to loosen. It finally came off. Not unscrewed. You see under the battery I found lots of acid residue (not from this battery) that had corroded the screw post. It had sheared off. I tried to loosen the nuts holding the battery pan, but they were corroded and I couldn’t even get a purchase. I had a boat battery so I connected it and set it in the compartment so that I could drive to the dealer (who had the battery pan). So my simple battery replacement took all day and I still had to take it in. Even if the dealer had tried to replace the battery I still would have been on the hook for changing the corroded pan.
Still easier than the Volkswagen. I loved my original '67. You could do anything easily. I used to stop and go turn the idle screw in the back just for the fun of having it idle faster or slower during my change of mood. Now, everything is so crammed in and overlayered that the battery is partially under the fender and you have to contort it and move other cables just to get it in or out. Put the battery and the fluid and oil caps within easy reach and not covered up by stuff!
Nothing like trying to change a battery in a cramped dark area for a fun time. About a year ago I had to change the battery on my Miata. They are a small special battery (they have a vent since they are in an enclosed space), that is basically in the trunk up under the wheel well.
Well the car is all black. So I had a black car with black carpet in the trunk and a black battery tucked under the wheel well. It seemed like the damn thing just absorbed the light, and I am 51 with old eyes. But finally got the cover off, and the one terminal off, but the other one was tucked way back near the side of the car where I couldn’t see-just feel for the nut.
So I got a small ratchet and it was working great, until I turned it a little too aggressively and the handle on the rachet hit the other terminal. Which then of course completed the circuit from negative to positive. Wow–lots of sparks and I got a nice burn on my hand from the spark.
I was much more careful after that.
Wow, I’ve never had a car where the battery was inaccessible. On my current vehicle, it’s sitting right up front, right on top. Learn something new every day.