All Makes & Models - Foreign & Domestic
All Major & Minor Repairs
We Build Customers For Life!
Senior Citizen Discounts
Master State & ASE Certified Technicians
October 4, 2020
Colder weather brings out the worst in a vehicle's battery. On a very cold day, you may have experienced that your engine cranks slowly when starting. But while it may be the battery itself, it may also be the parts that transfer the power to other the other electrical components, the battery cables. After all, you have to have some way to get the current out of the battery and out to where it needs to go.
Battery cables have a couple of enemies: corrosion and age. You may have looked under the hood and noticed a light-colored powder or crust around the terminals. That's what happens when acids corrode the ends of the battery terminals. Corrosion inhibits the connection and may reduce the amount of power getting to the electrical accessories to the point where they are not working correctly, if at all.
Here are some symptoms of problems with your battery cables. You might notice a clicking sound when you turn the key, some of your vehicle's electrical parts (like the sound system or the horn) don't work or, in some cases, the vehicle won't start at all.
When you take your vehicle to a repair facility, the technician will use instruments to check voltages to see how much current is getting to what location. That includes a starter draw test during which the battery's voltage is checked when the starter is cranked. The technician will also visually inspect the cables and the charging system. To make sure the alternator is putting out the right voltage, the technician will measure that as well.
If the problem is found to be the battery cable assembly, the entire set may have to be replaced. Sometimes they can be repaired.
During the colder months, it's vital that your vehicle has the proper power going to its electrical components. Having a vehicle that won't start or run smoothly is not something you want to battle with when you're already up against challenging weather. Keep your electrons flowing… and your vehicle moving.
Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Batavia
301 S. Randall Rd
Batavia, Illinois 60510
630-879-9941
May 5, 2024
The heat is on, and your vehicle takes a beating when it is. Several of your vehicle's systems are under extra stress in hot weather, so here are a few to make sure are getting the care and maintenance they need. It makes sense that the cooling system is one to make sure is in top shape. Vehicl... More
April 28, 2024
Used vehicles are certainly an economical choice for budget-conscious Batavia drivers. But how can we know we're getting a good used vehicle and not just inheriting someone else's problems?There are good used vehicles for sale in the Batavia area. Vehicles are sold when families upsize, when fami... More
April 21, 2024
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
