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Understanding Car Issues

When I began thinking more seriously about car issues, it occurred to me that there were a few things I needed to do if I wanted to make things easier for myself in the long run. For starters, I began taking my car in for regular auto service, which really helped out. It was really interesting to see how many different things had to be fixed every time I went in, but when my car didn't have as many problems, I could tell that it was really paying off. This website is all about understanding and preventing car problems by making better choices.

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Understanding Car Issues

Three Tips For When Your Car Battery Isn't Functioning

by Micheal Barrett

No one likes when their car battery starts to fail. If the sound of your vehicle clicking is making you hit your head on the dash, there are a few things you need to know about your battery.

What Your Battery Light Is Trying To Tell You

If your battery light turns on, the first culprit usually isn't the battery, it's the charging system itself. In most cases, either your wires have gone faulty, or it's the alternator. A jump won't help you much or get you very far. In most cases, it's best to have your car towed to your favorite shop to have someone take a peek at the situation.

Your battery can usually be ruled out as the culprit, if the signs of alternator failure are present. If your alternator is failing, you'll notice flickering lights and inaccurate gauges. You may also hear a growling sound and smell burning rubber.

Look Into Getting A Jump Starter

Everyone knows about jumper cables, but everyone should be introduced to their close relative – the jump starter. Jump starters have jumper cables on one end and attach to a battery pack. They're simple to operate and can get your vehicle running if you can't flag down a good Samaritan.

However, jump starters aren't perfect. If your battery is too dead, or the starter isn't powerful enough, it could fail to start your car. You should always carry a set of jumper cables, in case your jump starter fails.

Your Battery Can Freeze

In cold weather, some batteries can freeze. The sulfuric acid in the batteries combines with water to create an electrolyte. However, if your battery isn't charged, the sulfuric acid and water can't mix and your battery can freeze. You never want to jump a frozen battery, as it can cause injury to both you and your vehicle. To detect if your battery may be frozen, see if you can get your dash lights to light. If they come on, your battery isn't frozen, and it's safe to jump. If your dash lights don't come on, you probably want to have your vehicle towed to your mechanic.

You may also want to have your vehicle towed to a mechanic if you've tried to jump your car several times, and it just isn't working. Jumping your car too many times can put stress on your alternator and significantly shorten its lifespan.

For more information, talk to companies like Powers Transmission Centers.

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