Caring For Your Car At Capitol Chevy: Checking Your Vehicle's Battery

 

Reason #4: Your Vehicle Won't Start

The most common reason a car owner discovers there's something wrong with their battery? The car simply won't start up one morning. Perhaps you left a dome light on overnight, or the door was ajar. This can often drain the last remaining charge from a battery. However, even if you turned everything off after parking, an old, weak battery might not be enough to start your car.

The trouble is, you now have to determine if the battery simply ran out of juice, and needs only to be recharged, or if the battery itself is just too old and worn to hold a strong charge. After a jump start, let the engine run for at least 15 minutes, whether you're driving around or just idling. This will allow the vehicle's alternator to recharge the battery. If you still can't start the vehicle, chances are you'll need a new battery. However, if the car starts up again, the alternator has recharged the battery and your battery is probably healthy enough to keep on driving!

 

Reason #3: You're Planning A Long Road Trip

If you're going to hit the open road with your family, it's important to make sure your vehicle is in good shape and properly equipped for the conditions ahead. Stop by our service center and let one of our technicians know you're embarking on a road trip, and we can inspect the major systems on your vehicle to ensure it's ready. If your battery is old, it could potentially give up the ghost while you're on your road trip. That could strand you hundreds of miles from home, and potentially far away from emergency services! Instead, have the battery and other major components tested before you begin your next family road trip.

Reason #2: Winter Is Coming

In cold temperatures, a battery loses its strength. In fact, by the time temperatures dip below freezing, your battery may have lost up to 35% of its effectiveness! The colder it is, the harder your battery will have to work to start the car. If your battery is on its last legs, it might work just fine through the summer -- only to finally die on you when colder temperatures arrive. That's why, when winter approaches, it's not a bad idea to ask for a battery health test at our service center. We can ensure your battery is ready for winter, or replace it with a brand-new, high-quality battery that'll last you season after season.

 

Reason #1: Your Vehicle Has Been Sitting Unused

The battery in your car is designed to be recharged by the alternator as you drive. Even while your car is parked with all the accessories turned off, a little bit of juice is still drawn from the battery at all times. In fact, if your car is parked for an extended period, you might find you need a jump-start. Perhaps you just got back from a long vacation, and your vehicle won't start in the airport parking lot? Chances are, it could just be that the battery is dead. But if your battery is old, and the vehicle has been sitting for a week or more without being driven, the battery might go bad. Have your battery tested before parking your car for an extended period of time. Or, be prepared to jump start the car with another vehicle or charge the battery with a battery charger before trying to start the engine.