United Tire and Service News

A drained car battery can happen suddenly or gradually over time. When it happens suddenly, something likely caused your battery to lose its charge. Negligence and human error often cause batteries to lose power, but a quick jump or recharge will restore them. Most often, you need a battery replacement, since it's likely at the end of its service life, and will not take a full charge. A timely replacement often helps to prevent a dead battery and additional costs and inconvenience for you. Our ASE-certified technicians at United Tire can inspect and replace batteries on any make or model vehicle.

 

When you buy a new car battery and properly care for it, about three years of reliable use is a good standard. Much more than that and you are pushing the battery near the end of its service life and it should be replaced as a matter of preventive maintenance. Other times, you have a seemingly good battery that is relatively new, and it suddenly does not have enough power to turn over your car. Car batteries die suddenly from several common causes, including:

A newer car battery can take some abuse and still continue working well for at least a couple more years. If you leave the lights on and it loses most of its stored power, the battery might suffer a little loss of its service life by not fully recharging. It still will take and hold a strong enough charge to start your car on even the coldest of mornings, but it cannot hold the same level of charge that it did when brand new. As that maximum charge level slowly reduces over time.

 

Four seasons of driving weather in the greater Philadelphia area subjects your car to a lot of rain, snow, and other inclement weather. All that weather can cause contamination and corrosion on your battery terminals and the cables connecting the battery to the alternator and starter motor. Corrosion and weak connections mean your battery is not getting the same charge that it should from the alternator and will not send full power to the starter. The battery has to work harder with less juice and eventually dies from a shortened life. Regular cleanings and replacing a bad cable can restore full charging, starting, and electrical power to and from your battery.

 

The charging system needs to work properly for your battery to hold a full charge and stay reliable for as long as possible. When the alternator is worn out, or there's a bad drive belt or cable connecting it to the battery, the battery does not get its full charge. If the alternator is bad, a new one will fix the problem. Regular checks and replacing the alternator belt or serpentine belt when applicable will help to keep the charging system working its best.

 

If your car has a weak battery, dim lights when you get in, or just plain will not start, you likely need battery service. United Tire has 13 independently owned locations across the greater Philadelphia area. Each has a full supply of new car batteries to get your motor running again. Our team is ready to help when you need us. Schedule your next appointment online.