Do I need to go to a 4S shop to replace the battery?

[MacChase]

Replacing the battery does not require going to a 4S shop. The method to replace the battery is: 1. Open the front hood; 2. Remove the fixed bar on the battery; 3. First disconnect the negative terminal, then disconnect the positive terminal; 4. Take out the battery, replace it with another one, and install it back in the reverse order. The maintenance methods for the battery are: 1. Start the car regularly to charge the battery; 2. When the electrolyte is low, replenish it with distilled water or a special replenishing solution; 3. During daily driving, frequently check whether the small holes on the battery cover are ventilated; 4. Check whether the positive and negative terminals of the battery are oxidized; 5. Check whether any part of the circuit is aged or short-circuited; 6. Turn off electrical equipment when leaving the car.

[Frederick]

Last time my battery died was during a business trip, so I just found a nearby auto repair shop to replace it. To be honest, 4S shops charge exorbitant prices for batteries—typically 50% higher than independent shops. I compared prices for the same Varta battery model: the 4S shop quoted over 800 RMB, while a professional battery store on the street did it for 500 RMB, including installation. The key is that third-party services are now very mature. Chains like Tuhu offer battery testers to accurately diagnose whether a replacement is needed and provide an 18-month warranty. Unless your car is under warranty and requires dealership service, there's really no need to go to a 4S shop. As a side note, when replacing the battery, make sure the new one matches the original capacity to avoid being tricked into a smaller model, which could affect the auto start-stop function.

[DeMolly]

I've replaced the battery in my old car three times. The first two times at the 4S shop cost me enough wasted money to buy a new battery. While the technicians at 4S shops are indeed professional, changing a battery doesn't require such high technical expertise. Now I always take advantage of major e-commerce promotions to buy batteries online, ordering from the official flagship stores of brands like Fengfan or Bosch, which turn out to be particularly cost-effective after discounts. Scheduling a technician for home installation takes just half an hour, and I don't even need to handle the jack myself. Remember to ask the technician to connect a backup power source first when replacing the battery; otherwise, losing the car computer data means having to rematch the window lifts. Actually, going to a specialized battery brand store is the most hassle-free option—they have all the necessary equipment and can even recycle old batteries, making them much more efficient than 4S shops.

[SanHector]

With 10 years of car ownership and four battery replacements under my belt, my experience is clear: there's no need to get ripped off at dealerships. A regular repair shop charges around 200 yuan for labor to replace a battery, while dealerships dare to ask for 500 yuan. Last time, I got a Camel battery replaced at a neighborhood auto shop—450 yuan all-inclusive, whereas the same battery would cost nearly 1,000 yuan at a dealership. Nowadays, many brands offer door-to-door battery replacement services where you just input your license plate number to automatically match the right battery model—super convenient. A key reminder for drivers in northern regions: opt for a battery with high cold-cranking amps in low-temperature areas. After replacement, make sure to check if the alternator voltage is stable to avoid overcharging the new battery.