Back to all

Battery Basics for Aurora

November 14, 2017

drive

It's important for Aurora drivers to know battery basics. First, let's talk about which is harder on a battery – hot or cold Illinois weather. Most Aurora area drivers think it's cold weather because that's when we call on our batteries to have enough power to start a cold vehicle engine.

However, heat does more damage to a battery than cold. Truth is, our batteries start to die a little from day one. Keeping a full charge slows the process, which is hard with short Aurora trips because the alternator doesn't have time to fully recharge the battery from starting the engine. Aurora drivers can top off the charge with a computer controlled battery charger – say, once a month in the summer and every three months during the winter.

As far as how long a battery will last, statistics show that 70% have given up the ghost within four years. By that time, they aren't capable of taking a full charge like they used to, and your vehicle alternator has to work overtime to keep up. This causes your alternator to wear out early.

If you're pushing 4 to 5 years on your battery, see your friendly and knowledgeable Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Aurora service assistant for a battery test to see if it's recommended to replace it. Not only can you avoid getting stranded with a dead battery on a Illinois road, but you'll save unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle alternator.

Give us a call.

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Aurora
3190 N. Aurora Rd.
Aurora, Illinois 60502
630-898-6688

 

More articles from Tuffy Aurora

Alleviate the Creaks and Squeaks (Chassis Lubrication)

February 16, 2025

If your vehicle creaks and squeaks when you drive down the road, it may mean that some of the metal parts are rubbing against each other and need to be lubricated. Those could be parts of the suspension, steering system and the drivetrain. Years ago, most vehicles had to have their chassis (wha... More

No Fueling Around (Fuel Filter Replacement)

February 9, 2025

A driver called in to the shop the other day saying his European sports sedan had an odd problem. He was driving when his car started to slow down. Applying more throttle didn't help. He pulled over to the side of the road, shut the engine off and waited a few minutes before starting it up aga... More

(Timing Belt)

February 2, 2025

You may have heard about an important part of your vehicle's engine called a timing belt, and many know that if that belt breaks, it can cause some very serious engine problems. Not all vehicles have them, and the ones that do generally have smaller engines. The timing belt keeps the engine sy... More