Battery Basics for Rockford
Posted May 9, 2013 12:00 PM
It's important for Rockford drivers to know battery basics. First, let's talk about which is harder on a battery – hot or cold Illinois weather. Most Rockford area drivers think it's cold weather because that's when we call on our batteries to have enough power to start a cold vehicle engine.
However, heat does more damage to a battery than cold. Truth is, our batteries start to die a little from day one. Keeping a full charge slows the process, which is hard with short Rockford trips because the alternator doesn't have time to fully recharge the battery from starting the engine. Rockford drivers can top off the charge with a computer controlled battery charger – say, once a month in the summer and every three months during the winter.
As far as how long a battery will last, statistics show that 70% have given up the ghost within four years. By that time, they aren't capable of taking a full charge like they used to, and your vehicle alternator has to work overtime to keep up. This causes your alternator to wear out early.
If you're pushing 4 to 5 years on your battery, see your friendly and knowledgeable TJ's Auto Center Inc. service assistant for a battery test to see if it's recommended to replace it. Not only can you avoid getting stranded with a dead battery on a Illinois road, but you'll save unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle alternator.
Give us a call.
TJ's Auto Center Inc.
3427 E. State St.
Rockford, Illinois 61108
815-399-2886
The TJ's Auto Center Inc. Guide to Vehicle Diagnosis
Posted May 1, 2013 12:00 PMModern Rockford vehicles have several computers on board that control all kinds of things like engine functions, transmission shifts, traction control, anti-lock brakes, stability control, emissions – and on some vehicles, even steering, braking and the throttle.
Think about that for a minute – things that used to be controlled by simple mechanical connections now have electronic controls that rely on computers, software and sensors. It's no wonder that when something goes wrong with their vehicle it can be pretty complicated for Rockford drivers to track down the source of the problem.
To help your service advisor at TJ's Auto Center Inc. figure out what's wrong, your vehicle is equipped with on-board diagnostics. The Check Engine light comes on to tell you there's a problem and the engine management computer stores a trouble code. Your friendly and knowledgeable TJ's Auto Center Inc. technician connects a scan tool to your vehicle's diagnostic port and retrieves the trouble codes as well as other important data.
Trouble codes are like clues for the technician to follow as he diagnoses what's wrong with your vehicle. In a way, it's like going to your Rockford doctor with a problem. She'll run some additional tests and gather the information she needs to make a diagnosis and form a treatment plan. How much a vehicle diagnosis costs at TJ's Auto Center Inc. in Rockford depends on how much time it takes to sort out the symptoms and find the underlying problem.
Give us a call.
TJ's Auto Center Inc.
815-399-2886
3427 E. State St.
Rockford, Illinois 61108