March 16, 2025
OK, so you probably take your vehicle's battery for granted. Turn the key or push a button and it starts right up. During times of warmer weather, you probably think your battery can take it easy. But it may surprise you to learn that hot weather can be much harder on a vehicle's battery than cold. So it's wise to know what condition your battery is in BEFORE you find out the hard way—being stranded by a dead battery.
Your vehicle's battery won't last forever; an average battery will last 3-5 years. When's the last time yours was replaced? You probably have no idea. Your vehicle will usually give you some hints that it's in need of attention. See if any of these are familiar:
Even if there are no signs your battery is on its last legs, it's a good idea to have it periodically checked at your vehicle service facility, at least once a year. A technician will check the date it was made (it's on the battery's case). They'll inspect your battery, cables and connections, looking for corrosion, bulges in the battery or any other abnormal signs.
Using special diagnostic equipment, the technician can run some tests on your battery and vehicle's electrical systems. They can measure how fully charged your battery is and how much potential it has to hold a charge. Then, your service advisor will tell you how much more life to expect from your battery or recommend it be replaced.
It you need a new one, your service advisor can recommend options for you. Important factors include brand, warranty, where the terminals are on the battery, the ability to handle different cranking loads and temperature ranges. Bet you didn't know vehicle batteries can be that different!
Tuffy Elyria (Cleveland St)
165 Cleveland Street
Elyria, Ohio 44035
440-322-3713
http://www.tuffyclevelandst.com
April 20, 2025
If you drive, you know at some point, something's going to go wrong with your vehicle. And sometimes, it's pretty easy to figure out what's wrong, like a flat tire. But sometimes your vehicle's symptoms can be really puzzling. One driver in Ohio was heading to work on a hot July day and noticed... More
April 13, 2025
You know your body temperature is supposed to be 98.6 degrees F, 37 degrees C. Your vehicle has a normal temperature, too, and if you pay attention to it, that can save you some big headaches down the road. Many vehicles have a temperature gauge on the dash that takes the temperature of the engi... More
April 6, 2025
We usually take our vehicle's easy steering for granted until something goes wrong. Power steering is what makes it almost effortless to turn the steering wheel, aiming your vehicle in the direction you want to go. Without the assistance of power from the engine, steering would be a laborious pr... More