Rivers Edge Services
3981 18th Ave Prince George, BC V2N 1B2 250-562-5999
Question:
When do I need to replace my battery?
Rivers Edge Services Answer:
That’s an essential question for Prince George 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 Prince George drivers should have their Prince George 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 Prince George 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 Rivers Edge Services in Prince George 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, Prince George 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 Rivers Edge Services 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 Prince George 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 Prince George 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.
Stop by or give us a call.
Rivers Edge Services
3981 18th Ave
Prince George, BC V2N 1B2
250-562-5999
www.riversedgeservices.ca/
At Rivers Edge Services we install quality NAPA replacement parts.