Selecting a car battery for your 1997 Honda Civic requires you to consult the car's extensive and comprehensive owner's manual or an automotive professional. Once you've identified the size and type of battery you'd like to install in your Civic, you are then able to shop around for a battery that best suits your budget and performance needs. All in all, selecting a car battery for your 1997 Civic needs only the right resources and the proper mindset.
Consult your Civic's owner's manual. If you're unable to locate your Civic's owner's manual, consult the version of the manual available online (see Reference section).
Locate the section in the manual dedicated to the electrical components of your Civic. That section will start in the last third of the manual, and it will be identified by an icon of a battery with a negative and positive terminal.
Identify the subsection in the electrical section that is dedicated specifically to the battery.
Examine the diagram of the battery that indicates the battery's code. For a 1997 Honda Civic, the battery code is "55B24L - MF" or "55B24L {S} - MF." These codes indicate the type of battery you will need to purchase.
Visit your local auto parts and identify the different batteries available for the specific type of battery you need. These batteries will differ according to many variables, including price, guarantee and something called "cold cranking amps," which indicates the power output on an initial "cold" start.
Select the battery that best suits your budget and your performance requirements.
