Car batteries are a very interesting component of the vehicle. Like the starter, they're technically only essential to start the car. After that they're pretty much non-essential components of the car. Why is that, you ask? Well most of the electrical systems of the car are run by the alternator, which is basically just your classic magnet inside a mesh of copper wire. Things like your radio, the spark for spark plugs, your air conditioning, everything else electrical is all pretty much powered by your alternator. Even the battery itself is charged by your alternator. Which begs the question, why do we even need batteries and starters in our cars at all.

The problem that's difficult to overcome is that it takes a lot of voltage to turn over an engine and start the car. A battery gives a quick jolt of power that you can't generate with an alternator. That's the reason it's still an essential. But the thing that I find most unfortunate is that a car battery is still quite expensive, even though its use is very limited in the car. You only ever use your battery for a few seconds a day, and yet it sometimes costs $100 to change it out every few years.

That's why I like battery booster packs. Battery booster packs are exactly what their name says they are, a device which boosts a dying or dead battery enough to give it that extra juice it needs to start the car. With a battery booster pack, you can prolong the life of a battery and have an emergency backup unit just in case. A battery booster pack is nice because it has built in jumper cables, so it functions as two tools in one.

Another nice trick is the rolling start. It's true that this will only work for stick shift vehicles, but that's just another reason why I prefer to drive a stick shift. If the battery in a stick shift car won't start the engine, put the car in neutral and push it by hand to get it rolling. After that, with your foot down on the clutch, put the car in first and then quickly release the clutch again. If you're rolling fast enough, and about 3 miles an hour should do it, the momentum will give enough energy to start the car. Pretty neat trick, huh. I've used it plenty of times.

Car batteries and starters are essential components of your car, no one's doubting that. I just don't like changing them at the first sign of trouble when they're not technically critical to the vehicle's function. General maintenance like brakes, oil changes, and replenishing vital fluids I make sure to keep well on top of. But car batteries and starters should be used up until they're absolutely on their last leg if you ask me.

I'm one of the old school car drivers. Things like heat warmers, automatic push start buttons, keyless entry, and the like are just more things on a vehicle that can end up breaking down. Give me power windows and steering and I'll be good to go. Everything else just seems like a headache.