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BatteryTaking the Heat (Batteries in Hot Weather)Quick question. Which is tougher on a vehicle's battery, the heat or the cold? Believe it or not, it's the heat. Think about it. The battery often sits in the engine compartment next to that motor generating lots of heat. That can accelerate corrosion in the battery and may even cause water in it to evaporate. That will weaken the cranking power of your battery and shorten its life span. To take care of your battery, here are a few suggestions. It's a good idea to have it checked out to see what shape it's in. At your vehicle service facility, they have diagnostic equipment that can evaluate its condition. That can help you know how long you can expect it to last before having to replace it. At the same time, you should have your charging system evaluated. If your battery is not getting charged properly, it can be in great shape but not very useful when it comes to starting your vehicle. A technician will also check the cable connections that should be free of corrosion and tight. Keep in mind that under certain conditions, a vehicle battery can cause an explosion if close to an electrical spark. This is why the safe way to go is to have a qualified, trained technician do the work. Your battery is important both in hot and cold weather. When it comes to starting your vehicle, make sure it's always up to the job. The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley A Stitch in Time at The Car Doctors of the Antelope ValleyYou probably have heard that expression, "A stitch in time saves nine." In other words, if you fix an issue at its early stages, it will prevent a much more difficult problem later. That's certainly the case with your vehicle, and here's a true story to demonstrate it. A driver noticed his vehicle was due for an oil change, so he took it in to his service facility early in the morning so he could wait while the work was performed. The technician routinely checks the battery on vehicles just before extreme weather is approaching (cold or hot), so with winter coming up, he hooked up the load tester (it measures voltage while a load is put on the battery). It showed the battery wasn't holding a charge well. The technician checked the manufacturing date on the battery, too (most batteries have a date stamped in code somewhere on them). The date showed it was five years old. While batteries can last more than five years, many technicians say you should expect to get anywhere from three to six years out of them, depending on what they go through. So, this battery was getting a little long in the tooth, and it wasn't holding a charge particularly well. But how much current was it being sent by the vehicle's alternator? If it wasn't getting enough, that might be a factor. A test of the charging system showed the alternator was putting out the correct amount of power. The technician recommended replacing the battery, and the driver agreed. That was the stitch in time. Had the technician not checked the battery, that driver likely would have been stranded the next time he tried to start his vehicle on a very cold day. What originally was supposed to be just an oil change led to a technician's sharp diagnosis and a little preventative maintenance for one fortunate driver. Sometimes timing is everything. The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley Battery Maintenance Tips From The Car Doctors of the Antelope ValleyWhen it comes to your vehicle, it all starts with the battery. Proper battery maintenance is important for two reasons:
The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley service advisors can inspect and test your battery. If the inspection warrants a cleaning, have it done. If the battery test indicates that replacement of the battery or cables is in order, you will be lucky to have caught the problem before it becomes a major inconvenience. The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley Alternator Replacement Service in LancasterYour vehicle alternator doesn't get enough credit. Though your battery gets your engine started, after that – it's all about the alternator. Driving around Lancaster is a lot of work for your alternator, and as upgrades such as heated steering wheels, cooled seats, stability control and lane departure warning become more common, it will have to work even harder. Eventually this workhorse just wears out. When it does you have no choice but to order an alternator replacement because your vehicle won't run without one. The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley Automotive Tips from The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley: Making a Battery Last LongerOne thing all Lancaster drivers can do to extend the life of their battery is to keep it clean. A greasy, dirty battery holds in damaging heat. Same goes for removing corrosion from the terminals. The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley can help maintain your battery. Need a New Battery? Call The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley TodayHello Lancaster drivers! Need a new battery? There is a good chance that you do – 70% of batteries need to be replaced within four years. As your battery discharges and then recharges as you drive around Lancaster, bits of the surface of the battery plates disintegrate. As this process continues over a few years, the alternator has to work harder to supplement the battery charge. Over time, enough of the battery is damaged that it can no longer hold a charge and it needs to be replaced. This also speeds up wear on the alternator. The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley Automotive Tips from The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley: Battery TestingThe simple fact is that 70% of car batteries fail within 4 years. They just need to be replaced at The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley when they are no longer able to hold a full charge. The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley
A New Battery in LancasterHello Lancaster drivers, let's talk about batteries. Car batteries are just like any rechargeable battery. They will eventually wear out and die. If you are shopping for a new battery in Lancaster, here's some auto advice to help you. The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley Battery Basics for LancasterIt's important for Lancaster drivers to know battery basics. First, let's talk about which is harder on a battery – hot or cold California weather. Most Lancaster area drivers think it's cold weather because that's when we call on our batteries to have enough power to start a cold vehicle engine. However, heat does more damage to a battery than cold. Truth is, our batteries start to die a little from day one. Keeping a full charge slows the process, which is hard with short Lancaster trips because the alternator doesn't have time to fully recharge the battery from starting the engine. Lancaster drivers can top off the charge with a computer controlled battery charger – say, once a month in the summer and every three months during the winter.
Charge It in Lancaster for Extended Battery LifeHere's an interesting statistic for our in Lancaster, California, drivers: Only 30 percent of car batteries make it to 48 months. And the life expectancy varies by where you live. It ranges from 51 months in extremely cold areas to just 30 months in extremely hot climates. The Car Doctors of the Antelope Valley |
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