Batteries and charging

Capacity (Ah) tells you how much energy the battery stores, and cranking current (A) how strongly it turns over a cold engine. Take the capacity the carmaker specifies or slightly more, and a cranking current no lower than the old battery's. In an Estonian winter it does not pay to save on cranking current.

A car with start-stop needs an EFB or AGM battery. If it left the factory with AGM, replace it with AGM too: an EFB or standard battery wears out quickly in such a car. A car with EFB takes EFB or AGM. On many newer cars the new battery also has to be registered with a diagnostic tool.

Before you buy, measure the length, width and height of the old battery and check which side the positive terminal is on. In the "Terminal layout" filter, pick the side the positive is on in your old battery, looking at it from the terminal side. Also check the bottom ledge that holds the battery to its tray.