Service Smart Saturday = November 23rd
Car Battery Information Page
GENERAL BATTERY INFORMATION
Types of Batteries We Install
Types of Batteries We Install
According to Cars.com, the average life span of a car battery is around three years.
If yours is getting close to that age, it may be time to have it checked out by a certified professional.
Types of Batteries We Install
Types of Batteries We Install
Types of Batteries We Install
We proudly install World Source One. They come with a two year no questions asked warranty as well as a roadside assistance up to $75!
BATTERY PADS
Types of Batteries We Install
BATTERY PADS
Tired of dealing with corrosion build up on your battery? Our Battery Service is the answer to your battery's prayers! Benefits include extended battery life + terminal corrosion prevention.
THE SCIENCE
Starting & Charging System Testing
BATTERY PADS
Curious about how your car battery works? Want to understand what happens when you recharge your vehicle's battery?
Warning: technical info ahead!
Starting & Charging System Testing
Starting & Charging System Testing
Starting & Charging System Testing
Please note, not all starting problems are directly linked to the battery and sometimes a weak battery is a symptom of another bigger problem.
Quick Glossary
Starting & Charging System Testing
Starting & Charging System Testing
Alternator, battery and starter motor simply defined with common symptoms.
The Starting & Charging System
System Testing
Few things are more frustrating when going out to start your vehicle and it does not turn on or if it does, it seemed to have struggled, leaving you with the worry of becoming stranded somewhere...
The charging system includes the alternator, voltage regulator and connected wiring. The purpose of the alternator is to keep the battery charged while the vehicle is being operated.
The starting system includes components such as the ignition switch, starter motor, battery and connected wiring. The starter motor rotates the engine until it can rotate on its own power.
The alternator is connected to the accessory drive belt system. As the belt turns, it spins the alternator. The alternator produces AC voltage that is converted to DC voltage by the bridge rectifier. A normal output voltage of the alternator is 14.4 volts - enough to charge a 12 volt battery.
When a vehicle is started, current flows from the closed ignition switch to the starter solenoid. Sometimes the park/neutral safety switch is placed in this circuit and will only allow current to the starter if the transmission is placed in Park or Neutral.
Once the starter solenoid is activated, it pushes the starter pinion gear outwards so that it engages with the flywheel ring gear. At the same time, it also allows current to the starter motor, causing the pinion gear to spin. The spinning pinion gear rotates the flywheel until the engine can rotate on its own.
Take the mystery out of this system and give yourself peace of mind by having an ASE Certified Technician inspect the Starting and Charging system. It is important to verify the problem and more importantly the cause of the problem. Before you know it, you could be making a few trips to the auto mechanic without every getting to the source of the problem. Or worse, pay for something and not know what exactly you paid for...
According to Gates (a leading manufacturer of original equipment parts for vehicle manufacturers), there is an epidemic occuring in the industry where batteries, starters, and alternators are being blamed and warrantied when they were perfectly good and the true problem was left unresolved.
Modern vehicles operate as systems
Is the battery discharged because the alternator is not operating correctly because the belt is slipping because the tensioner needs to be replaced?
The picture above is meant to give clients a simplified overview of all the actions your vehicle undergoes when you turn the key (or push the start button). There are other more complex steps not being shown, but you get the idea!
Quick Glossary
Alternator
Starter motor
Alternator
Function: Provides power to the vehicle's electrical system and charges the battery while the engine is running.
Signs of Wear: Engine doesn't turn over, loss of battery power, some loss of electrical power (dimming headlights, etc.), alternator warning light illuminates
Battery
Starter motor
Alternator
Function: Supplies the energy needed to start the engine, provides the current to operate the accessories when the vehicle is not running and protects the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) from high-voltage surges.
Signs of Wear: Lack of power when attempting to start the vehicle or when using the accessories.
Starter motor
Starter motor
Starter motor
Function: The starter motor cranks the engine when engaged with the flywheel. The solenoid uses electromagnetic current to power the start motor and flywheel.
Sings of Wear: Sporadic engine cranking, poor starting qualities.