Once upon a time ... when you could still change batteries yourself
01/12/2026
When the battery in my cars went flat in the 1980s, there was usually a simple procedure. Either the manual told you what type of battery was needed, or you read the values on the battery. Then you went to the DIY store, where there was usually a large selection of batteries, put a two-digit sum on the counter and replaced the battery at home. No great mechanic experience or knowledge was required. As soon as the new battery was connected, the car ran as before.
Today, modern cars are a far cry from this simplicity. Not only have starter batteries become much larger and more expensive, but it is now rare to find a suitable model in a DIY store. However, if you know what you are looking for, you can buy them online. Because there are now different types of batteries, you should not look for shortcuts here. It is even not advisable to change the battery yourself in cars with automatic start-stop systems. If you try it anyway, you should make sure that the on-board electrical system is still supplied with power when the battery is disconnected and replaced. And even if all this succeeds, it is not certain that the car will simply accept the new battery; in many cases it must first be reported to the battery management system in the car using an auxiliary device. You can certainly find instructions for this on the Internet, but it is no longer really DIY-friendly.
Yes, it really was much easier (and cheaper) 20 or more years ago, the price of progress?
