September 24, 2023
If your vehicle isn't starting or doesn't sound like it used to when you crank it, the culprit may be the battery. You may have left a light on, or something plugged into one of charging ports. Maybe you accidentally left your vehicle in the "on" or "accessory" position when you last got out. Maybe you've left it in the garage or driveway for a long time without starting it. That can spell the end for a vehicle battery.
It's also possible that your battery is just simply too old. There's no standard lifespan of a battery, but 3-5 years is about average, even though some people only get 2 and heavier duty batteries may last many more. It's possible your battery is defective, too. And it could be your vehicle's charging system isn't recharging the battery.
Whatever the cause, if you're having problems with your battery, it's a good idea to bring it in and have us perform a thorough battery test. With state-of-the-art testing equipment, a technician will see if there's a bad cell in the battery or if it can be recharged. We will also look at the date it was made.
At the same time, the technician will look at the whole charging system, including the alternator, starter, cables, and connections. From there, the service advisor can go through your options.
Your best chance of not getting stranded by a dead battery is to have your system checked as part of a regular maintenance plan. That should give you a head start on dependable starts.
Tuffy Grand Rapids
610 28th St. SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49548
616.452.4425
March 2, 2025
In warm weather, you want to be in a cool vehicle. When we're talking cool, we don't mean stylish or trendy, but cool as in not sweltering inside. And if your vehicle's air conditioner stops working correctly, it seems to always break at the worst timeduring a heat wave. Automotive air conditio... More
February 23, 2025
It's bad enough in cold weather when ice and snow block your visibility. Add to that fog on the inside of your windows and you could be driving blind. So here are a few tips on how to keep your windows from fogging up when there's a chill in the air. You probably know fog is really condensation... More
February 16, 2025
Your vehicles engine runs hot. It should, since its a series of little explosions that create the power that gets you going where you want to go. To keep the engine cool, engineers have designed wonderful cooling systems that use liquid coolant, hoses, and a radiator to transfer the heat from t... More