Simple Answers from M & R Auto for Trenton: Battery Replacement

Question:
When do I need to replace my battery?

M & R Auto Answer:
That’s an essential question for Trenton drivers. All batteries wear out and need to be replaced.

Look, if your battery is dying and you need a jump-start, it could very well be that you have a bad battery. But Trenton drivers should have their Trenton auto service center test the battery first to see if it’s actually bad. The vital problem could be parasitic drain or a bad alternator that’s not properly charging your battery.

And Trenton drivers in this situation also need to have their service advisor inspect their alternator and have it tested. A surprisingly high percentage of “bad” alternators brought into M & R Auto in Trenton are actually just fine: the problem is a worn serpentine belt and/or belt tensioner. If the belt is slipping, it’s not spinning the alternator properly so it can’t fully charge the battery.

Hopefully, Trenton drivers can see that a dead battery can be the result of a chain of events: a worn serpentine belt, a worn belt tensioner, a bad alternator or a bad battery. If you don’t check the belt, tensioner and alternator you can just end up replacing batteries that are still good. Talk to your M & R Auto service advisor.

That brings us back full circle to when batteries do fail. There’s a chemical cycle that takes place inside your battery: the battery is discharged when you start the vehicle and is recharged by the alternator when you drive. Short trips around the Trenton area with frequent stops and starts may mean that your battery is never fully recharged. When a battery isn’t fully charged parts of the battery harden and are no longer available to “store” electricity. Over time, your battery just can’t hold enough charge for the needs of your vehicle. This is harmful to your alternator as it tries to keep up, causing it to wear out prematurely.

Batteries last longer in colder climates and wear out faster in warmer Ontario climates. We want to remind Trenton drivers that, on average, 70% of batteries fail within four years. Many Ontario automotive experts recommend replacing your battery every five years. This will lessen the chances of being stranded on a local expressway with a dead battery as well as prevent undue wear on your alternator.

Stop by or give us a call.

M & R Auto
342 Sidney Street
Trenton, Ontario K8V 2V2
613-394-6618

At M & R Auto we install quality NAPA replacement parts.