Is it Time to Have Your Battery Replaced

It may be surprising to you that it’s the heat of summer that’s harder on your battery than the cold of winter. Yep that’s right, everyone thinks the winter cold kills your battery which it does (your battery works harder in winter to start your car) but only after the heat of summer has weakened it. High heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, thus damaging the internal structure of the battery so when it gets cold the battery often will not have enough juice to start your vehicle. 

There can be several other reasons for a dead battery or a shortened battery life. The reason may be your battery is overcharging due to a dead cell in the battery, alternator issues or the voltage regulator. Also a battery that is being overcharged can cause damage to your alternator. All these possible issues need to be checked out when you bring your vehicle in for a weak battery or charging problems.    

Batteries today are usually maintenance free (other than keeping the connections clean) however most batteries have caps that can be removed with a screwdriver. If low on water they can be refilled with distilled water if necessary. We recommend that if you believe your battery needs help, please have one of our technicians check it out.

It is a good rule of thumb that if your vehicle's battery is 3 years or older you should consider purchasing a new battery soon. 

We’re finally getting a taste of winter this week so I thought I would resend this email as a reminder. You don’t need to let your vehicle “warm” up like we used to.

Back in the day everybody would idle their vehicle to get the engine warm while waiting in the house. That’s when all cars had carburetors and needed to warm up before moving. However it’s been 30 years since that was commonplace. With today's fuel injectors, computer systems and thinner oils you don’t need to warm up your car’s engine like in the good old days.

The best way to warm up your car is to start it up, wait no more than a minute and go. It takes 3-5 minutes to warm your engine so just don’t gun the engine at the start. I know on these cold mornings before I get to the first red light by the QT my car is already blowing hot air and that's less than 1 mile away.  

When your engine becomes warmer the computer sensors in your car will adjust the fuel mixture to be less rich until your car’s engine heats up to 40 degrees. Idling your car for more than a minute wastes gas, causes excessive wear to cylinders, piston rings, spark plugs and can even harm your exhaust system. 

So to be clear with the point, idling your car is not an effective or wise way to warm up your car.

So unless you're driving a 1980’s vehicle which we assume your not, dress warm get in your car and go.

October is Fall Car Care Month: Let’s Keep Your Car on the Road

Since October is Fall Car Care Month I want to take a few minutes to help you become a little more car care aware. You can do this by taking a proactive approach to help you be aware about preventive maintenance that helps ensure safety, reliability and fewer unexpected repairs. 

Getting your vehicle ready for the colder months while the weather is still mild. Now is a good time to keep your car in good continuous running order. The following are the basics of keeping a good running vehicle. Here are the inspections we perform every time you come in for service.

• Check all fluids including oil. Transmission, power steering and brakes as well as antifreeze/coolant and windshield solvent
• Check all hoses and belts to make sure they are not brittle, cracked, frayed or showing signs of excessive wear
• Check the braking system, pads and rotors inspected at each oil change. 
• Check the battery and replace if necessary. 
• Inspection of the exhaust system for leaks, damage or if there is an unusual noise. Exhaust leaks can be dangerous and should be corrected immediately.
• Check the heating, air conditioning and ventilation system. Proper heating and cooling is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons such as defrosting the windshield. 
• Inspection of the steering and suspension system including shock absorbers, struts, ball joints and tie rods.
• Check the tires, tire pressure and wear. Uneven wear is a sign that you need a wheel alignment. 
• Check the wipers and lighting so you can see and be seen. Especially important as the time changes in the fall and it’s dark by 6 pm.

This email as with most of the emails I send are to help you become aware that keeping up with the maintenance on your vehicle is important to keeping a better running car that in turn means keeping your car on the road longer. There is no reason with how well car’s have been made in the last 15 years that your car should be able to go 250,000 plus miles if taken care of properly. My 2011 Scion XB has 337,500 miles on it and runs 

great. 

We want your car to run smoothly for years

A Dead Battery Left Me Stranded

Warm weather is the time for car battery problems. The summer’s extreme heat can destroy a car's battery. I found that out yesterday. I gathered my things and was going to head to Cumming to see my doctor (that I had been putting off forever) and upon entering my car and turning the key and nothing happened.

Yes there I am sitting in my car feeling frustrated that I was not going anywhere. I write about different thoughts and ideas on vehicle maintenance and there I was a victim of my not doing what I suggest.

My battery was exactly 3 years old and I know that when a battery is 3 years old it’s usually a good time to have it replaced. Oh me oh my, I felt like a real dummy especially since I had noticed some corrosion around the terminals just last week.

Please note that summertime is the battery killer not wintertime so if your battery is in the 3 year old range I highly suggest that you replace it sometime in the near future. (You’ve been warned so don’t be a dummy like me)

Don't forget about our other shop Atlanta Hybrid Repair. AHR is equipped to handle all your Toyota and Lexus service needs. (Gas powered and hybrids welcome). Located at 5630 Peachtree Blvd. 1 mile away from the main shop across the street from Wendy’s and the Kia dealership. Call for appointment at 770-492-7437

Regular preventive maintenance is the best single thing you can do as a car owner to keep your car running safer, longer and save money on major repairs in the future.

Cold Weather, Spring Break and Warm Weather Coming

Time has changed and with Springtime arriving it’s time to get some basic maintenance done. With the warmer weather we all become more active so we need to make sure our vehicles are in the best running condition possible. How long has it been since you’ve had a safety inspection ? Did you know that during every oil change we do a safety inspection ? We suggest depending on the amount of miles you drive that you have a safety inspection at least twice a year minimum.

During a safety inspection we will perform a check of the following:

Tires and tire pressure

Battery

Brakes

Hoses

Belts

Air filter

Cabin filter

Wipers

Lights

Fluid levels including engine oil, transmission, brake, power steering, windshield wiper solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

During a safety check we will often catch the small problems before they become big costly issues.

Regular preventive maintenance is probably the single best thing you can do as a car owner to keep your car running safely and save money on repairs in the future.

Always be Prepared, Get Regular Safety Inspections

Whether you're just driving around town, heading to the mountains or to visit home this fall. Atlanta Hybrid Repair reminds you to make sure your vehicle is ready for the road. Having a thorough vehicle  inspection is a must to avoid the inconvenience and safety hazards of breaking down.

ToyoTechs recommends a check of the following, tires and tire pressure, batteries, brakes, hoses, belts, air filters, wipers, fluid levels including engine oil, windshield wiper solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

We also recommend that you keep a emergency travel kit in your car. The emergency kit should include a first aid kit, jumper cables, flashlight, water, blanket and a snack. You may think you might not need an emergency kit however even driving around town you may get stuck for a few hours or more. (remember Atlanta’s Snowmageddon 2014)

The smart thing is to always get a safety check before traveling. Even if driving locally, have your vehicle inspected at least twice a year.

Regular preventive maintenance is probably the single thing you can do as a car owner to keep your car running and save money on repairs in the future.

Is it Time to Have Your Battery Replaced

Just a few thoughts on batteries

It may be surprising to you that it’s the heat of summer that’s harder on your battery than the cold of winter. Yep that’s right, everyone thinks the winter cold kills your battery which it does (your battery works harder in winter to start your car) but only after the heat of summer has weaken it. High heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, thus damaging the internal structure of the battery and when it gets cold the battery often will not have enough juice to get your car started.

There can be several other reasons for a dead battery or a shortened battery life. The reason may be your battery is overcharging due to a dead cell in the battery, alternator issues or the voltage regulator. Also a battery that is being overcharged can cause damage to your alternator. All these possible issues need to be checked out when you bring your vehicle in for a weak battery or charging problems    

Batteries today are usually maintenance free batteries (other than keeping the connects clean) however most batteries have caps that can be removed with a screwdriver. If low on water they can be refilled with distilled water if necessary. We do recommend that if you believe your battery needs help, please have your Atlanta Hybrid Repair Technician check it out.

It is a good rule of thumb that if your vehicle's battery is 3 years or older you should consider purchasing a new battery before winter.