Despite the lack of freezing temperatures like the northern U.S. or the blistering heat of the West, motor vehicle owners in Florida may still face several problems when trying to get their car batteries changed, according to the automotive editor of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Steven Cole Smith.
The first thing Floridians who suspect a dead battery should do is to confirm this is what's really going on. Problems with the connections between the battery and the car can cause similar symptoms, Smith writes.
If the battery really is finished, Florida car owners should make sure they purchase the correct type of replacement. Smith says the manufacturer's information about the type of car battery required ought to be somewhere on the car. Usually, it should be under the hood, but Smith warns it could be somewhere less obvious, like the fender or rear of the car.
After carefully considering cost and value issues – dealership prices might be unusually low now, given the slow market for new-car sales, Smith suggests – figuring out how to actually replace the battery is the next step. Having professionals install it is safer, but such a service can end up costing money. Additionally, Smith urges, Florida drivers should be sure to recycle their old battery, which is both good for the environment and for the general market price of the items.
While maintenance issues like battery changes might be somewhat simpler in Florida than in the rest of the country, experts say, auto insurance costs in that state are still relatively high thanks to dense traffic and a mixed safety record. Consumers are encouraged to shop around online, comparing and contrasting rates to find the best deal.