Simple Answers from VALLEYPRO AUTOHOUSE for Kelowna: Battery Replacement
Question:
When do I need to replace my battery?
VALLEYPRO AUTOHOUSE Answer:
That’s an essential question for Kelowna drivers. All batteries wear out and need to be replaced.
Look, if your battery is dying and you need a jump-start, it could very well be that you have a bad battery. But Kelowna drivers should have their Kelowna auto service center test the battery first to see if it’s actually bad. The vital problem could be parasitic drain or a bad alternator that’s not properly charging your battery.
And Kelowna drivers in this situation also need to have their service advisor inspect their alternator and have it tested. A surprisingly high percentage of “bad” alternators brought into VALLEYPRO AUTOHOUSE in Kelowna are actually just fine: the problem is a worn serpentine belt and/or belt tensioner. If the belt is slipping, it’s not spinning the alternator properly so it can’t fully charge the battery.
Hopefully, Kelowna drivers can see that a dead battery can be the result of a chain of events: a worn serpentine belt, a worn belt tensioner, a bad alternator or a bad battery. If you don’t check the belt, tensioner and alternator you can just end up replacing batteries that are still good. Talk to your VALLEYPRO AUTOHOUSE service advisor.
That brings us back full circle to when batteries do fail. There’s a chemical cycle that takes place inside your battery: the battery is discharged when you start the vehicle and is recharged by the alternator when you drive. Short trips around the Kelowna area with frequent stops and starts may mean that your battery is never fully recharged. When a battery isn’t fully charged parts of the battery harden and are no longer available to “store” electricity. Over time, your battery just can’t hold enough charge for the needs of your vehicle. This is harmful to your alternator as it tries to keep up, causing it to wear out prematurely.
Batteries last longer in colder climates and wear out faster in warmer BC climates. We want to remind Kelowna drivers that, on average, 70% of batteries fail within four years. Many BC automotive experts recommend replacing your battery every five years. This will lessen the chances of being stranded on a local expressway with a dead battery as well as prevent undue wear on your alternator.
