3 Alternatives to buying a new battery for an older vehicle

Boost or bolster your existing battery with one of these alternatives

Published Oct 25, 2022 • Last updated Mar 26, 2024 • 2 minute read

Battery replacement in an internal-combustion vehicle Photo by Getty

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Few motoring experiences are more irritating than hopping in your ride to head out to work, only to be greeted by the click-click death-rattle of a discharged battery. Trying in vain, the low voltage weakly fumbles when you turn the key, ultimately failing to engage the starter motor.

If you haven’t priced a new battery in this new world of runaway inflation, be prepared for a shock. The idea of a quality 12-volt battery for almost any ride being priced around the $150 mark is long gone. On average, a normal lead-acid battery from a reliable brand can easily approach and exceed this figure — and if your vehicle requires a new-technology AGM unit, well, the prices can start at $300.

Is there an alternative to buying a new battery for an older ride — especially a legendary winter-beater that might only see one more cold-weather season?

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Battery blankets

Battery blankets are worth the trouble, and we’re not just talking about the electric type. Even a non-powered insulator can prevent frost from forming on the sides of the battery. They’re cheap (usually under $20) and extremely easy to install, often without tools. Plug-in units have the benefit of creating their own heat, though they cost a little more (around $50) and require some care in installation and use to avoid damaging nearby plastic components.

Trickle chargers

Trickle chargers are much smaller and easier to safely use than they once were. Brand such as Battery Tender offer mini chargers with circuit-board controllers to prevent over-charging. They’re small enough — about the size of two decks of playing cards — to be securely mounted under the hood and left there for the season, their AC power cord tucked neatly through the grille for easy access later. Trickle chargers start at around $50, and can extend the working life of almost any 12-volt battery.

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Buy online: Amazon, Walmart

Lithium booster packs

Like everything else, booster packs have evolved from clunky 50-pound behemoths of the past to slim, light-weight pocket-sized power supplies. Decent power packs start at around the $150 mark and can serve a host of household uses beyond just jump-starting a vehicle. Their multiple ports can recharge phones and power most other personal electronics, and can be safely left in the vehicle when not in use. They can also be recharged via most automotive power points, almost eliminating the risk of grabbing one to use only to find it discharged.

Buy online: Amazon, Walmart

And in case you do end up with a dead battery and without any of these aids, you should know how to jump-start a car using jumper cables. All you need is another car.

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Brian Turner

One of our longest contributors (over 30 years) Brian Turner is a veteran of the automotive repair world with over 4 decades of service. His career has taken him from independent shop management to a stint at AMC Jeep Renault’s Canadian head office to a variety of OEM dealerships in parts and service management. He still has a busy day job at a dealership counter today.

Experience

He began his writing for the Ottawa Citizen where he penned the ‘Ask the Expert’ column, answering motoring questions for thousands of readers. He took his pen on the road, so to speak, and offered similar consumer advice through several smaller news publishers over the years.

As of late he’s taken to the airwaves as a news broadcaster for Lake 88 FM radio where he also hosts his own weekly call-in show on, what else, consumer advice. You can also catch him every other Monday on Calgary 770 AM talk radio when he delivers Motoring Mondays to an eager audience during the afternoon drive time.

His mission is to break down the mysteries of modern automotive technology to help steer vehicle owners down the right road to smooth motoring.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-turner-b5bb0815/

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