Question:
When do I need to replace my battery?
Hi-Tech Car Care Answer:
That’s a critical question for Phoenix car owners. All batteries wear out and need to be replaced – but some are replaced before their time.
Look, if your battery is dying and you need a jump-start, it could very well be that you have a bad battery. But Phoenix auto owners should have their Phoenix auto service center test the battery first to see if it’s actually bad. The vital problem could be parasitic drain or a bad alternator that’s not properly charging your battery.
And Phoenix auto owners in this situation also need to have their service advisor inspect their alternator and have it tested. A surprisingly high percentage of “bad” alternators brought into Hi-Tech Car Care in Phoenix are actually just fine: the problem is a worn serpentine belt and/or belt tensioner. If the belt is slipping, it’s not spinning the alternator properly so it can’t fully charge the battery.
Hopefully, Phoenix auto owners can see that a dead battery can be the result of a chain of events: a worn serpentine belt, a worn belt tensioner, a bad alternator or a bad battery. If you don’t check the belt, tensioner and alternator you can just end up replacing batteries that are still good. Talk to your appreciative Hi-Tech Car Care tech.
That brings us back full circle to when batteries do fail. There’s a chemical cycle that takes place inside your battery: the battery is discharged when you start the sedan and is recharged by the alternator when you drive. Short trips around the Phoenix area with frequent stops and starts may mean that your battery is never fully recharged. When a battery isn’t fully charged parts of the battery harden and are no longer available to “store” electricity. Over time, your battery just can’t hold enough charge for the needs of your sedan. This is dangerous to your alternator as it tries to keep up, causing it to wear out prematurely.
Batteries last longer in colder climates and wear out faster in warmer AZ climates. We want to remind Phoenix auto owners that, on average, 70% of batteries fail within four years. Many AZ automotive experts recommend replacing your battery every five years. This will curtail the chances of being stranded on a local interstate with a dead battery as well as prevent undue wear on your alternator.
Hi-Tech Car Care
2924 E Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ 85016
602.224.0941
At Hi-Tech Car Care in Phoenix AZ (85016) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 602.224.0941. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.
