The car is packed, your family is buckled in, and you are ready to hit the road for a new adventure. You are all excited of what is to come and ready to take on the hours of driving you have ahead of you. Let’s do this. You start driving and stop for a quick meal and to take in the scenery. You all load back in the vehicle and it won’t start. What could be wrong? This can’t be happening. This is a scenario that no one wants to face, especially when they are on a trip. One of the main causes of a vehicle not starting, is the battery dying. Don’t let this be you. Is your vehicle’s battery ready to tackle your next road trip? Before setting out, you should make sure it is.
Is Your Vehicle’s Battery Ready to Tackle Your Next Road Trip?
Half the cars on the road today are more than 10 years old. Once your car hits that double digit mark, it is twice as likely to break down on the road and four times as likely to need a tow (How Stuff Works). Car batteries, like all batteries, have a finite lifespan. Batteries deteriorate over time until they can no longer provide enough power to start the vehicle’s engine. This wear time could take three to five years. The vehicle’s usage pattern is one factor contributing to the rate at which a battery will age. Batteries in cars, trucks, or SUVs, driven mainly for short trips, may not fully recharge, and batteries in vehicles parked for extended periods naturally self-discharge.
If you have a battery issue it may not be due to its age, it can also be caused by something in your vehicle being left on and draining it. Sometimes headlights are left on, an internal light, door lights, etc. External temperatures can also impact your vehicle’s battery. Extreme weather, such as very cold or extremely hot days can cause your battery to die.
There are several factors that can impact your battery’s ability to function as it should. Even if you jump start your vehicle to get enough power to get you to your next location, you could be faced with it being dead again when you go to restart it. If you have a battery that is failing, it will not be able to hold a charge and you will be much better off by having it replaced than continuing to try and jump start it. Eventually, that will not work.
Is your vehicle’s battery ready to tackle your next road trip? Before you set out, you should ensure it is. Before hitting the road, check your battery to ensure it is secure and visit a local automotive repair shop to test the strength of your battery. If your battery is not at the levels it should be, we would recommend having it replaced before you tackle your next trip. Nothing would be worse than being stranded on the side of the road and ruining your vacation.
At Advanced Transmissions & Emissions we can help to ensure your vehicle is ready for your travel plans. We have provided some other tips for how to prepare your vehicle for a road trip to ensure you make it to your location with as little of stress as possible.
Advanced Transmissions & Emissions specializes in transmission repair, rebuilding, and remanufacturing and all of your Phoenix automotive repair needs from transmissions, clutches, AC, steering, suspension and more. We are a full-service auto mechanic repair shop.
Visit us today or fill out our online form for service.
