September 15, 2024
Quick question. Which is tougher on a vehicle's battery, the heat or the cold? Believe it or not, it's the heat. Think about it. The battery often sits in the engine compartment next to that motor generating lots of heat. That can accelerate corrosion in the battery and may even cause water in it to evaporate. That will weaken the cranking power of your battery and shorten its life span.
To take care of your battery, here are a few suggestions. It's a good idea to have it checked out to see what shape it's in. At your vehicle service facility, they have diagnostic equipment that can evaluate its condition. That can help you know how long you can expect it to last before having to replace it. At the same time, you should have your charging system evaluated. If your battery is not getting charged properly, it can be in great shape but not very useful when it comes to starting your vehicle. A technician will also check the cable connections that should be free of corrosion and tight.
Keep in mind that under certain conditions, a vehicle battery can cause an explosion if close to an electrical spark. This is why the safe way to go is to have a qualified, trained technician do the work.
Your battery is important both in hot and cold weather. When it comes to starting your vehicle, make sure it's always up to the job.
Tuffy Grand Rapids
610 28th St. SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49548
616.452.4425
September 8, 2024
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
September 1, 2024
Your vehicle's brakes wear out. It's inevitable. You'll notice it when you step on the brake pedal and feel it harder to stop, or there's vibration when you are braking. Most modern vehicles have disc brakes that each use a brake pad that press on a disc (disc brakes!) called a rotor. The fric... More
August 25, 2024
No matter what the temperature is outside, it's important for your vehicle's engine to remain cool, calm, and collected. Well, cool, anyway. If your vehicle has a gasoline engine, it's powered by a bunch of explosions involving spark plugs, pistons, gasoline, and air. And the by-product of all ... More