When Your Car Battery Should Be Replaced?

There may come a day when you’re ready to head out and you find your vehicle won’t start.  You think it might be caused by a dead battery.  But how do you know for sure?  It could possibly be a bad alternator. Have starting issues checked out so you are not left stranded with a car that won’t start.

You may wonder when your car battery should be replaced?  

1. Slow engine crank.  Your car starts intermittently.
2. Clicking sound when turning the key in the ignition. The engine isn’t receiving sufficient power. 
3. Dim headlights. They are not getting the power they want.
4. Electrical issues. The electronic accessories (power seats, windows, GPS, radio, etc.) may not work correctly.  
5. Dashboard warning light.  This warning light could mean the battery is dying or the alternator is going bad. 
6. Swollen battery case.  This can be caused by constant exposure to high temperatures.
7. Older than four years. A car battery becomes unreliable around for 4 or 5 years, fluctuating based on exposure to extreme temperatures and your driving style.
8. Loose battery connections.  The battery will appear to be failing.  
9. A light was left on for an extended period of time.  If your battery is still good after testing it, a jump and recharge should be all that is needed to restore the charge.

Want to know more about when your car battery should be replaced? Call our ASE Certified Mechanics at Rum River Automotive for more information about a car battery replacement and to request an appointment. Our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.  

What Causes a Car Battery to go Bad?

If your battery is starting to fail, you may be experiencing issues, such as your vehicle won’t start, move, or power the electrical accessories.  You may be wondering just what causes a car battery to go bad?  There are various reasons, such as: 

1. The battery connections and cables may be loose, broken, corroded, or calcified, 
2. The fluid level in the terminals may be too low,
3. An electrical current from an accessory or operating system is drawing power from the battery even when the car is turned off.
4. Extremely hot or cold Weather will weaken your battery if it is already starting to die.
5. The automatic stop-start technology in newer cars places additional strain on your car battery.  
6. The powerful computers found in today’s cars are operating continuously, even when the vehicle is turned off, drawing energy from the battery at a slow, steady rate. 
7. The charging system, which includes the starter and alternator, maybe going bad.    

Under normal driving conditions, car batteries can become worn down and inefficient between 3 to 5 years.  It may be almost completely unreliable once it reaches the 4-year mark.  A weak battery can have a negative effect on all the components of the auto electrical system, such as headlights, power windows, radio, etc.  Just like a cell phone battery becomes less efficient with every charge, so it is with your car battery.  Every time you drive your car the alternator is recharging the battery, diminishing its effectiveness.

Here are several signs that it may be time for a car battery replacement:

1. Your engine cranks but it doesn’t start. 
2. Clicking sound when you turn the key 
3. Your vehicle may One day it starts fine, then the next day it won't start at all.

Remember:  Add car battery maintenance to your maintenance checklist, along with changing the oil, air filter, tire rotation, and windshield wipers.   

Need more information about what causes a car battery to go bad?  Consult our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive for more information about a car battery replacement and to make an appointment.  Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.  

How Often Should You Replace a Car Battery?

Are you tired of trying to find the jumper cables all the time you want to start your car? How often should you replace a car battery?  This is a question that many car owners ask because they are worried about being stranded in a parking lot or on the side of a road.  A dead car battery is a frustrating inconvenience that can be avoided.  The best time to replace your battery is before it dies.

But how do you know how often should replace a car battery?  There are several signs that indicate it is time for a car battery replacement, such as:

• Slow engine crank
• Illuminated check engine light
• The Bloated, misshaped battery case
• Battery fluid leak

The typical lifespan of a car battery is between 3 to 5 years. Depending on the climate where you live and your driving habits, you may be looking at a car battery replacement before the end of 3 years.

• How does climate affect your battery?  The heat of summer can lead to the evaporation of water in the car’s battery acid, resulting in decreased performance, subpar starting power, and a shortened lifetime.  When the temperatures are chill, your battery wants to work harder to generate enough energy to keep your car running smoothly. Icy weather can also result in thicker engine oil, which puts an additional strain on your battery.
• How does your driving affect how long your battery will last?  If you consistently take short trips like daily drives to the office and the grocery store, your battery doesn’t have enough running time to recharge fully between stops. Also, if your car sits in the garage for extended periods of time, the battery continues to drain passively even when the engine isn’t on.

Even without any warning signs, a general rule of thumb is that you should replace your car battery about every 3 years.  

Are you wondering about how often should you replace a car battery?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive for more information about a car battery replacement and to make an appointment.  Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.  

Wondering Why Does Your Car Battery Keep Dying?

When a battery fails it’s a serious issue that wants instant attention.  Inappropriately, this is generally not at a convenient time or place.  So you may be wondering just why does your car battery keeps dying.   Have your batteries checked and the charge inspected so you will know if it’s time for a car battery replacement.  A checkup of your car battery should be on your maintenance checklist, just like changing the oil, air filter, tires rotation, and windshield wipers.  

Here are a few things to check if you are having starting issues:  

1. The headlights were left on.  This will drain a battery if left on overnight.  
2. Battery terminals and cables may be loose, broken, corroded, or calcified, 
3. Extremely hot or cold temperatures.  If your battery is starting to fail, this will accelerate the issue.
4. The fluid level in the terminals may be too low,
5. An electrical current is drawing power from the battery even when the car is turned off.  Even small drains, like the memory function in your car radio, may kill a weak battery. 
6. The charging system is going bad.  This may include the starter or the alternator.  

Some of these issues are enough to kill a battery on their own, while others are generally coupled with a battery that is already weak or on its last legs.

Are you wondering why does your car battery keeps dying?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive for more information about a car battery replacement and to make an appointment.  Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.  

How does a Simple Wheel Alignment Prevent Accidents?

By nature, driving out on the public roads is a risk of itself. However, the odds of avoiding costly and sometimes life- threatening accidents can be as simple as having a car alignment service. Often neglected in a regular auto maintenance routine, a wheel alignment is cheap insurance when it comes to ensuring a safe daily commute.

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A wheel alignment is preventative maintenance that encompasses a car's complex and delicate suspension system, making sure that everything is precisely adjusted and also checking that individual components are within factory wear limits . As the miles and years add up on the various suspension components on a vehicle, wear such as cracked, dry rotted rubber seals and loose ball joints can occur. This wear ultimately adds up and contributes to more serious issues such as a car that sways while driving, steering wheel vibration, or even compromised braking. It's common knowledge that braking ability is the single-most important safety feature on an automobile. Don't risk an accident by allowing the camber of a vehicle's wheels to limit the amount of tire tread that contacts the road and increasing the distance it takes for the car to come to a stop.

The easiest way to maintain your safety and preserve the equipment that separates you and the road is to get regularly scheduled car alignments. Waiting for a decline in the vehicle's steering and braking performance is risking a potential accident. An alignment inspection should be in order every time a large pothole is hit on a highway or hitting a curb. It is very good practice, and recommended, to get a reputable technician to inspect the status of a vehicle's alignment during every other oil change.

Having wheel alignment problems? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive for more information about a car alignment service. Rum River also offers quality auto repair and auto detailing services. Since 1997, our auto shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.

Keep Your Car Battery Going Strong with these 4 Tips!

After summer's hot temperatures, you might want to have the amount of charge in your car battery checked out. Excessive heat and overcharging shortens the life of a car battery. Heat causes fluids to evaporate, which can then cause damage in the internal structure. A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high of a charging rate, which will eventually destroy the battery. Don't let an emergency car battery replacement interrupt your busy schedule.

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These four maintenance tips can help keep your vehicle's car battery at its peak performance and help prevent an inconvenient car battery replacement:

• Overcharging can damage a battery as quickly as undercharging. Ask your mechanic to check the electrical system and make sure it is charging at the proper rate.
• On a regular basis, check the fluid level in your battery if it is the type that requires topping off. Add distilled water when necessary.
• Always replace a car battery with one that's rated at least as high as the manufacturer's equipped original.
• Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt becomes a conductor, draining the power. Corrosion accumulating on the terminals becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow.

By following the simple tips above, you will help prolong the life of your car battery and save you the cost and inconvenience of a car battery replacement.

Need a new car battery or just a charge? We will be happy to help you. Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com for more information. Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.