Battery Archives - Oldsmar Automotive

Reasons Your Battery May be Dead (Again!)

June 11, 2020 By Oldsmar Automotive Leave a Comment

call your auto repair shop for a new battery or electrical check

We’ve all occasionally left a light on and ended up with a dead battery. However, your battery shouldn’t die regularly. Most have a two to five year expected life and, with proper treatment, will last at least their expected life. If you’re wondering why your battery died (or died again), here are some things your local auto repair shop wants you to know.

Short Trips

Do you remember those wind-up flashlights we had as kids? The longer you wound it, the longer the light stayed on. Your car battery works in a similar way. You use your battery to start the car and then your car charges the battery when you drive. If you take many short trips, your car battery doesn’t have sufficient time to recharge and you end up draining it to the point that it needs to be replaced.

The Heat

Although most Floridians know that their car battery won’t last as long as it would in a more temperate climate and there’s little we can do to control the heat, you can protect your battery by parking your car in your garage. Anytime you have the option of keeping your car out of direct sunlight, do so. Your battery will stay cooler and last longer.

Electrical Issues

If you constantly have a dead batter and don’t take short trips and your car is garaged, chances are good that you have an issue in the car’s electrical system. The best solution, if this describes your situation, is to take your car to your auto repair shop for a vehicle check. Checking your car’s electrical system may take just a few minutes and a reason for the battery draining. Your auto repair shop can then provide you with an estimate for repair that should prevent the need for another jump or new battery.

Malfunctioning Charging System

This too will require a trip to your auto repair shop. One of the surest signs that your issue is with your alternator is if the car won’t even start with a jump. Keeping your car’s accessories off (radio, AC, chargers) can help get you to your car start the next time you need it too but it’s not foolproof nor will it help for very long.

If you’re searching for a reason you’re ending up with a dead battery or why your car seems to go through batteries at a remarkable pace, stop by Oldsmar Automotive at 3166 Tampa Road, we’ll do some diagnostics and provide you with an estimate for repair. We’re an ASE certified auto repair shop and ready to help you today. You can also call (727) 784-3501 for an appointment.

Hybrids Still Require Automotive Maintenance

August 29, 2019 By Oldsmar Automotive Leave a Comment

automotive maintenance is important with hybrids too

Although it’s true that a hybrid may not need certain maintenance as frequently, it still needs regular automotive maintenance. They are cars after all. If you’re not treating your hybrid to the same maintenance you treated your previous cars with, it’s going to have issues. Here are some of the most common mistakes hybrid owners make when it comes to automotive maintenance.

Neglecting Tire Rotation

Because some hybrid vehicles only require an oil change about every 10,000 miles, people forget to rotate their tires. No matter what type of engine your car has, you still should rotate your tires about every 7,000 miles. Not doing so will result in irregular wear on your tires.

Treating Their Brake Pads and Rotors/Drums the Same

Although vehicle braking systems have similar parts, hybrids have a separate braking system to recharge the battery. Because that’s the primary braking system you use, your rotors and drums may suffer from corrosion more quickly due to lack of cleaning which happens in a gas-powered vehicle when you apply the brakes. On the other hand, your brake pads may last longer requiring less frequent replacing.

Ignoring the Transmission Fluid

The transmission of a hybrid vehicle does more than what it does in a conventional vehicle. As a result, automotive maintenance to your hybrid’s transmission shouldn’t be neglected. You and your mechanic should follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and keep it serviced about ever 50,000 miles. Neglecting this key maintenance element could result in more than $10,000 of damage!

What About the Battery

A hybrid vehicle’s battery isn’t something you can just walk into an automotive parts store and buy. You’ll need a technician trained on the high voltage battery and one who can order it. If you’re having issues with your hybrid’s battery, check the warranty. Most have longer warranties than other parts of the vehicle.

Can You Perform the Work Yourself?

Although you can perform some things yourself, like an oil change, when it comes to working on any of the system that involves the battery, it’s best to leave it to an automotive maintenance professional. The batteries and the components related to the hybrid system have a much higher voltage than a traditional car battery. It’s best to leave the system diagnosis and repair to professionals like those at Oldsmar Automotive. Stop by 3166 Tampa Road in Oldsmar or call us at (727) 784-3501 to schedule an appointment.

Maintenance Tips for an Uneventful Road Trip

September 27, 2018 By Oldsmar Automotive Leave a Comment

If you’re planning a trip to grandma’s house in the upcoming holidays, you should make sure your car is well maintained before you go. Taking the time before you leave to make sure your car is in good working order will save you time and frustration while on the road. Here are four things you should check before you head out on a road trip in the upcoming holiday season.

1. Your Tires

Make sure your tires have adequate wear left, have been rotated at the appropriate intervals, and are properly inflated. You can check the tread depth with a penny. Put it in between the treads with Lincoln’s head facing you and upside down. If the tread doesn’t at least touch the top of his head, you need new tires. As for the air pressure, your car’s manual should guide you to the right number.

2. How’s Your Battery?

When was the last time you got a new battery? Have you ever had the battery life checked? Your automotive repair center will check your battery for free. They can tell you its expected remaining life or recommend replacement. You don’t want to be stuck in a parking lot unable to start your car on a holiday.

3. Brake Check

Sometimes holiday travel means sitting in stop and go traffic. That puts a lot of wear on your brakes. If yours are squeaking or it’s taking you longer than it did to come to a complete stop, you probably have an issue with your brakes. Let your automotive repair center check your brakes and recommend the right repair.

4. Fluids

Some fluids are essential to keeping your engine running and others are nice to have. If you haven’t checked your fluid levels and had them topped off or even different parts of your engine flushed, it might be time to do so. If one of the critical fluids are too low, your engine can seize up. Let your automotive repair center check and refill yours before you go.

If you don’t have an automotive repair center you trust to provide auto repair and proactive maintenance, call Oldsmar Automotive. We’re local and trusted as members of AAA and we employ ASE® Certified Master Technicians. We’re located at 3166 Tampa Road or you can schedule an appointment online or by calling 727-784-3501.

Your Car Battery and the Hot Summer Sun

June 29, 2018 By Oldsmar Automotive Leave a Comment

There are few more frustrating experiences than a car that won’t start. The fear of what it’s going to cost to repair and of being late where ever you need to be combine to elicit quite the panic in most people. One of the, thankfully, least expensive reasons a car won’t start happens in the heat of the summer more than any other time of year. It’s a dead battery.

Why the Battery Dies in Summer

Heat shortens the battery life. A battery contains liquid. When your car is left in the hot sun, even though the battery isn’t receiving direct sunlight, the liquid in the batter will evaporate. Once the battery’s liquid gets too low, the battery will fail. There isn’t much that you can do to prevent the drying up of the battery. Most batteries sold today are sealed and don’t require topping off that older batteries did.

Tips to Prevent a Dead Battery

On average a battery should last about five years. There are a few things you can do to maximize its life.

Clean it – Occasionally cleaning the terminals on your battery and the tops and sides will help your battery function well.
Avoid short trips – Batteries need time to recharge and your alternator does that during a drive. Several short drives will not give your battery time to recharge and if you let it sit after those quick trips, it may not start.
Unplug things – if you have lots of devices plugged into your car, they will drain your battery. If you’re not driving it and they don’t need power, unplug them to reduce drain.
Find shade – Shade will reduce the heat strain on the battery. It won’t prevent a battery from draining and dying but will help extend its life.

The next time you have your car serviced, ask your technician to check the battery. They can determine if it is well charged or if it’s close to dying. They can also check your electrical system to make sure it’s charging at the correct rate.

If you think you need a new battery or wonder if its your alternator not properly recharging your battery, stop by 3166 Tampa Road, Oldmsar or schedule and appointment by calling (727) 784-3501. The professionals at Oldsmar Automotive will check your battery and let you know where your issue is coming from and propose a repair or replacement.