You’ve probably heard that most vehicle batteries should last three to five years. But what happens if something goes wrong during year two? You turn the key and notice dimming headlights, slow engine cranking or clicking noises. Whether you’ve checked your battery regularly or not, you may find these symptoms alarming. So how do you know if your battery’s truly on the fritz? Maybe it’s time to head to a place like AutoZone, get yours tested and choose a replacement from the best car batteries. This guide tells you how to schedule free battery testing plus a few other useful tips.

AutoZone Battery Testing Services

AutoZone has almost 6,000 retail locations across the United States. And every location offers free battery testing and charging during their regular store hours. Even better, you don’t need to make an appointment. If you can still drive your vehicle, just take it to your nearest AutoZone and ask to get your battery tested.

Now if your vehicle won’t start, all is not lost. You may be able to get to a nearby store with a jumpstart. Keep in mind that jumpstarts are temporary solutions, but they can help you quickly get on the road. You’ll need proper jumper cables and a friend with a vehicle. If you have a portable battery jumper, that’s also helpful. Once you’ve gotten your jump, let your vehicle run for about 10 minutes. Then make your way to AutoZone and ask for a battery test.

Replacement Vehicle Batteries

So, you get to AutoZone and you find out that your battery’s bitten the dust. What do you do now? You obviously need another one. If your battery’s warranty period is still in force, you should be able to get a replacement for little to no cost. Check your warranty for further details. If you bought your original one at AutoZone, its staff can look up your purchase and help you sort out warranty information.

Whether covered by warranty or out of pocket, you’ll need to swap out your battery. Most vehicles come with top post models – both a positive and a negative terminal on top of the battery’s case. Top post batteries are the easiest to switch out. Follow these quick steps for how to install a top post car battery:

Check your battery tray. Make sure it’s clean and free of debris.

Carefully lift your new battery and place it inside the tray.

Apply battery grease and washers to each post.

Line up your battery so that its positive and negative posts are near their matching cables.

Attach the positive red cable to the red terminal first.

Connect the negative black cable to the black post.

Reconnect the cables. Take care not to overtighten them.

If you start the ignition and the engine turns over normally, you’re done.

A Few Final Words on Batteries

When dealing with dead batteries, you should keep a few other things in mind. AutoZone can also test and charge lawn equipment and marine vehicle batteries. They can also help you with your motorcycle battery. And if you don’t feel comfortable installing the new one yourself, don’t forget that AutoZone installs most batteries for no charge.