Battery Service for a Good Start

High-Energy Knowledge

Since automobiles have become increasingly sophisticated in electronic components, it is more important than ever to properly maintain your battery. For optimum upkeep, make it a point to have your service provider regularly test and evaluate the condition of these electrical power points.

• Battery
• Starter
• Alternator

With routine service, youll get a quick, accurate and comprehensive analysis of your vehicles entire electric system. That means you can avoid potentially dangerous roadside incidents.

You Can Rely on Us

Reliable electrical power means a reliable vehicle. We provide expert services battery analysis, recommendations and replacement, at the most competitive prices so you have the juice to keep zooming.

Our Tools Amp Up Your Power Behind the Wheel

• Factory-trained, specialist technicians
• Sophisticated, manufacturer-specific diagnostic equipment
• Detailed records of your vehicle history
• Warranty protection
• Huge inventory of high quality, manufacturer-endorsed and certified parts

With Battery Purchases We Offer:

• A huge inventory in-stock
• All the major brands
• Full warranty
• Replacement coverage
• Expert installation

Bigger Boost for Your Buck

We empower our customers with the peace-of-mind that comes with good value. We offer competitive pricing on all our services and parts. Heres how we ensure fair prices every time:

• We comparison shop to ensure real value.
• We honor competitors coupons.
• We offer a price match guarantee.

No Charge for Thorough Inspections

With every service visit, we do more than any standard garage would. We perform your battery test with the latest PDA technology. We include a multipoint, walk-around inspection and a comprehensive, easy-to-read diagnostic report that clearly indicates your batterys life expectancy.

Battery Life Expectancy

The average battery lasts about 40 months, but where you live also plays an important factor.
Extreme Cold 51 months
Cold 56 months
Mild 47 months
Heat 41 months
Extreme Heat 30 months

See our service advisors if you have any questions, or if you would like more information regarding the information presented here.

Extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, may adversely affect your battery. An older battery is not as reliable in severe conditions, so be sure to have your battery inspected before the winter and summer seasons.

Battery Basics

Time to Replace the Battery

Age

The average battery lasts about 40 months, and the life of your battery is crucial to your vehicles performance. Without a fresh battery, youre going nowhere.

When the battery goes unused for 14 days or longer, it will not be properly charged. Keep your battery running by turning on the engine once every few days in low-use vehicles.

Signs of battery wear include a hard start or slow crank. Cable corrosion also indicates an aged battery. The top reasons for battery failure include exposure to extreme temperatures, excess vibration and repeated cyclingor turning off and on power in your vehicle.

To determine the exact age of your battery, look for a small sticker with a letter and number on it. The letter A is for January, B for February and so on. The number is the last digit of the year the battery shipped. So A9 would be January 1999. Note that the letter I is not used, so December is M.

Terminology

When its time to replace your battery, you may hear talk about CCA and RC. Here is what those terms mean:

CCA Cold Cranking Amps - the number of amps a battery can support for 30 seconds at zero degrees Fahrenheit. The CCA is critical to the engine power supply.

RC Reserve Capacity refers to the batterys ability to supply ample power without falling below the minimum voltage needed to run the vehicle. A good RA rating may mean the car can be temporarily powered without the alternator or fan belt. As with CCA, the higher the rating the better.

Safety

Never attempt to replace the battery on your own. Batteries are filled with acid and other chemicals that can be harmful or deadly. They are also highly combustible, so keep flames and potential fire starters away from your battery.

If you must work on your battery, remove the ground wire and all jewelry and be sure to wear eye protection. Since old batteries are recycled, have your service provider change your battery to avoid additional fees.

Battery Recycling

Disposing of an old battery can be a troublesome task, especially since its hazardous waste. We alleviate that concern by fully recycling your used battery upon replacement.

Did you know that much of your old battery is reusable in the manufacturing of new ones? First, an old battery is hammered into hundreds of small pieces and fed into a vat, where the heavy materials such as leadfall to the bottom while the lighter plastic rises to the top. The separated materials are then processed individually:

• Plastic The pieces are washed, blown dry and melted together into a partial liquid state. The resulting small plastic pellets are then formed into new battery cases.
• Lead All the lead parts are cleaned and melted together. The molten lead is poured into molds where impurities float to the top and are scraped away. The recycled product is used to make new lead plates and other battery parts.
• Sulfuric Acid The acid may be neutralized to water, which is treated, cleaned and tested before it is released into the public waterworks system. Or, the acid may be processed into sodium sulfate, an odorless powder used in laundry detergents, glass and textile manufacturing.

What Percentage of Materials is Recycled**(Figures for period 1997-2001)
Percentage** of lead-acid batteries recycled, compared to aluminum cans, newspapers, glass bottles, and tires.
**source: Battery Council International
lead-acid batteries
aluminum cans
paper
glass
bottles
tires

A battery lasts generally between 30 to 56 months, depending upon the climate in which the vehicle is driven. Batteries can be specially prepared for use in extremely cold weather versus in a temperate environment. See your service advisor for details.*

What can actually make a battery die? Corrosion can inhibit electrical flow, excess dirt buildup can drain power and extreme heat can cause fluid evaporation.

The battery is typically under the hood near the engine, and may be under a plastic cover. It may be near the washer fluid or engine coolant compartments or inside its own special compartment.

Ask your service advisor if you need help locating your battery.

Leaving lights or the radio on when the ignition is off can drain the battery. If youre waiting in the car, be sure to keep use of electrical components to a minimum to preserve the life of your battery.

Your vehicles battery is a complex and potentially dangerous crucial component of your vehicle that we upkeep and service in the most expert manner.

*See store for details. AutoNation, Maroone names, designs, and related marks are registered trademarks of AutoNation, Inc. Copyright 1996, 2006. All rights reserved. All recommendations are general guidelines. Consult your owners manual for more specific information. Driving habits and road conditions also affect service intervals.