Car Battery
| Car Battery | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Class | Vehicle Maintenance |
| Type | Vehicle Part |
| Vehicle Types | Standard, Heavy-Duty, Sports |
| Weight | 5 |
| Condition | 100 |
| Uses | about 100000 |
| Metal Value | 1 |
| Install Skill | Mechanics: 0 |
| Location | Containers |
| Spawn ID | /additem Base.CarBattery1/additem Base.CarBattery2/additem Base.CarBattery3
|
The Car Battery stores the power a vehicle needs to start its engine. It also runs the lights, siren, heater and radio while the engine is off.
The battery comes in Standard, Heavy-Duty and Sports versions. Each version fits only vehicles of its own type. A Sports battery cannot be fitted into a Standard vehicle.
A charged battery is the first thing a vehicle needs. Without one, the engine will not start at all, even with a full tank and a working key. Survivors who rely on a vehicle should keep a spare battery or a way to recharge one. The Mechanic is the best occupation for vehicle maintenance. It starts with the most Mechanics skill.
How to Use Car Battery
The battery recharges on its own while the engine is running. It drains when the engine is started and when the lights, siren or radio are left on. Leaving the headlights on after stepping out can leave a vehicle dead the next morning.
Condition and charge are two separate things. Charge is the power left in the battery. Condition decides how much charge the battery can hold and how well it starts the engine. A battery in low condition holds less charge and fails to start the engine more often.
A flat battery can be brought back with a Car Battery Charger. The charger needs power to work. A battery can stay on the charger safely once it is full.
The battery only powers vehicles. It cannot run household lights or appliances. An installed battery will never explode or catch fire.
How to Install Car Battery
The battery sits under the hood. Fitting or removing it needs only a Screwdriver.
The job needs no Mechanics level and no special knowledge. That makes the battery the easiest part to swap in the game. Even a survivor with no mechanical training can change one.
The battery must still match the vehicle type. A Standard battery goes only into a Standard vehicle, and the same rule holds for Heavy-Duty and Sports batteries.
The tools, Mechanics level and knowledge the game asks for to fit the Car Battery and to take it out again.
| Slot | Install Tools | Install Skill | Knowledge | Remove Tools | Remove Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery | Screwdriver | Mechanics: 0 | - | Screwdriver | Mechanics: 0 |
Car Battery by Vehicle Type
The car battery comes in a version for each vehicle type, and each version fits only that type.
| Vehicle Type | Weight | Condition | Stat | Vehicles | Spawn ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 5 | 100 | - | /additem Base.CarBattery1
| |
| Heavy-Duty | 5 | 100 | - | /additem Base.CarBattery2
| |
| Sports | 5 | 100 | - | /additem Base.CarBattery3
|
Locations
Car supply stores are the best places to look, on their shelves and metal shelves. Mechanic shops, ranger garages and garage storage hold them less often. Closets, sheds and storage units turn one up now and then.
Most vehicles also carry a battery under the hood. Parked cars and wrecks are an easy place to get one, since the swap needs only a Screwdriver. Batteries found in vehicle trunks are almost always in full condition.
The places where it spawns, with the rough chance per container. Each tab shows one kind of place.
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Car supply store | Metal shelves | 13.8% |
| Car supply store | Shelves | 13.8% |
| Car supply shop, sport | Shelves | 13.8% |
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanic | Metal shelves | 4.7% |
| Storage unit | Other | 0.1% |
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Garage ranger | Other | 3.3% |
| Garage storage | Counter | 3.3% |
| Garage storage | Metal shelves | 3.3% |
| Closet | Crate | 1.3% |
| Closet | Other | 1.3% |
| Shed | Other | 1.3% |
| Garage storage | Crate | 1% |
Notes
- Turn off the lights and radio before leaving a vehicle to save the battery.
- Condition and charge are separate values on a battery.
- A Car Battery Charger refills a flat battery when it has power.
- Any survivor can swap a battery with just a Screwdriver.
All Vehicles Categories
All Vehicle Maintenance