Interstate Batteries Car and Truck Batteries

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Interstate Batteries Car And Truck Batteries

We’ve got your battery!

Learn all about our great Interstate Battery warranties, and find the right battery for your vehicle.

We offer Interstate brand batteries for boats, RVs, golf carts and even lawn mowers. Selection can vary by availability, call us to see if we have the battery that’s right for you.

See our Battery FAQ section below for additional information.

How does heat affect my battery?
Hot weather means high temperatures under the hood, which accelerates corrosion inside the battery. It can also cause water to evaporate out of the battery’s liquid electrolyte. This can result in decreased battery capacity, a weakened ability to start an engine and, ultimately, shorter battery life.

How do I stay safe when working with a battery?
Whenever you’re handling or working with a lead-acid battery, consult your vehicle and battery Owner’s Manual for instructions and safety precautions.
In the event of an accident, flush affected area with water, and call a physician immediately.

How Can I Tell My Battery’s Age?
The age of a car battery can be determined using the battery date code. The battery date code is a two digit code stamped into the cover as part of a longer code or on a label on the top or side of the battery. The battery date code indicates when the battery was shipped from the manufacturing plant and is read as follows:

Letter – indicates in which month the battery was manufactured (Example: A is January, B is February, C is March, etc)
Digit – indicates the year in which the battery was manufactured (Example: 9 for 2009, 0 for 2010, 1 for 2011, etc)
For example, an automotive battery date code that starts with “B1” would be February, 2011. In February 2017, this battery would be 72 month old.

Can I overcharge a battery?
Yes. The most common effect is the battery rapidly dying, however, a battery that swells and becomes hot to the touch is also a direct result of overcharging and can be very dangerous and even explode. A good indication of overcharging would be the smell of rotten eggs during charging. The battery is producing hydrogen gas, which is extremely flammable. Never smoke or have open flames around a battery at any time. Always use the correct charger when charging a car battery, and have it checked periodically by a technician if charging must be done frequently. Pay attention to labels that indicate exactly how the battery should be charged; this helps eliminate overcharging and possible harm and injury.

Will driving a car fully recharge a battery?
There are a number of factors affecting an alternator’s ability to adequately charge a battery. The greatest factors are:
1) How much current (amps) from the alternator is diverted to the battery to charge
2) How long the current is available (drive time)
3) Battery temperature
4) Battery age

Generally, running the engine at idle or short stop-and-go trips, during bad weather at night, will not recharge the battery effectively.

In the following situations, the alternator will not adequately recharge a battery if:
1. The battery is drained because an interior light was left on in the car for 18-24 hours.
2. The battery is drained because the vehicle has not been driven for a month or more.
3. The car is only driven at 35 miles per hour to a nearby store and back 2 or 3 days a week.

How do I know when it is time to replace the battery in my car?
There may be little or no warning, however, if any of the following happen, your battery should be tested immediately:

Motor has difficulty cranking over
Battery indicator light on the instrument panel stays lit for extended periods after starting. This could also be a mechanical issue (possible alternator) and should be checked by a professional mechanic.
Headlights dim when the engine is idling
Clock starts to lose time after the vehicle sits unused for several days

Important Note: To maximize the vehicle’s battery/charging system service life and performance, Interstate Batteries recommends a vehicle’s battery and charging system be tested at least semiannually or every time the oil is changed.

How is a battery recycled?
The process of recycling spent lead-acid batteries is two steps: separating the old battery’s components and then refining those components for new battery manufacturing. Batteries have three basic components: lead, electrolyte and plastic.

The plastic follows the industry’s common recycling process and is often reused for making new battery cases and covers. Since mining for lead is the least efficient way to make new batteries, every ounce of lead possible is recaptured for new battery manufacturing. The lead is melted down into ingots for easy transport and manufacturing.

Some of the battery’s electrolyte, a mixture of sulfuric acid and water, is reusable for new batteries. Some is neutralized and used for manufacturing textiles, laundry detergent and glass.

What Are Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)?
The battery’s Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) is an important measure for good cranking ability in cars, trucks and boats. CCA is the amount of current or amps a battery can provide at 0 °F (−18 °C) for a 30 second duration until the battery voltage drops to unusable levels. The rating is defined as the current or amps a car battery can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain at least 1.2 volts per cell (7.2 volts for a 12-volt battery) at 0 °F. Refer to your application guide for the vehicle, and follow the recommended CCA rating for that vehicle’s engine and features (ampere-hour rating, optional equipment, etc.).

For example, a 12-volt battery with a 650 CCA rating means the battery will provide 650 amps for 30 seconds at 0°F before the voltage falls to 7.20 volts for a 12v battery. So in extremely cold temperatures, the higher CCA level is required to crank your engine. In addition, as more cranking power is used, the amount of battery power available decreases.

What are Specialty Batteries?
Marine/RV Batteries – These batteries have starting power, plus the ability to power the many creature comforts in today’s boats and RVs. In addition, these batteries have thicker lead plates and typically have both threaded posts as well as the standard SAE automotive posts to connect to the vehicle’s battery cables.

What about Golf Cart Batteries?
Unlike automotive batteries, golf cart batteries don’t need starting ability. Instead, they need to be able to power your cart with long periods of time between charges.

Lawn and Garden Batteries – Designed to work as hard as you, Interstate’s Lawn and Garden batteries can power up your mower week after week. They’re also designed to tolerate the high vibration created in most mowers which helps them last longer.

Johnnys Auto and Marine Electric

Johnny's Auto & Marine Electric Service means quality work. We take pride in everything we do. We can also service your marine electric system! Location: 1573 Mechanical Blvd, Garner, NC 27529 Phone: (919) 661-1553 When you need auto electric service, who do you call? Your electrical system is more than just your battery, and as computerized controls are installed in more vehicles, and becoming more important to those vehicles, it's never been more important to ensure that your auto electric system is in peak condition. Small voltage fluctuations today could be a crisis on the road tomorrow. If you need any sort of electric service on your vehicle, we urge you to call us today.