Your battery is one of the most important parts of your vehicle. After all, if it fails so does everything else. Stay in charge with proper battery maintenance and replacement.
Car Batteries
CARMAX AUTOCARE trained professionals can test your car battery, replace it if necessary, and provide you with the comfort that comes with knowing your car will start when you need it to. We offer car batteries from leading brands. So if you’ve got a car battery problem, we’ll get you on your way in no time with high-quality car batteries guaranteed by the manufacturer
Starting & Charging
If your car won’t start, the car battery isn’t the only suspect. The starter, alternator, and spark plugs can also be trouble spots. The car battery provides the charge that starts the engine and powers accessories such as lights and wipers.
The starter can fail due to electrical or mechanical problems, making your car difficult or impossible to start.
If your alternator is not working properly, you may notice headlights or interior lights that dim and brighten on their own, or other odd electrical behavior in the car.
The trained technicians at CARMAX AUTOCARE can evaluate any starting and electrical issues you experience and repair or replace the parts causing problems.
Starting & charging systems – more than you wanted to know
In addition to the car battery, there are two other major components to your vehicle’s starting and charging system. And these two components must be in good working order for your vehicle to start and run properly.
Starter — when you turn the ignition key, you are actually turning on the starter, which then cranks the engine. When a starter isn’t working correctly, the engine may start with great difficulty, or not at all. Starter problems may be due to electrical/mechanical failure or outright breakage.
Alternator — the alternator carries out two important tasks. It recharges your battery while the vehicle is running to keep it at peak starting power. The alternator also works with your battery as a team to operate electrical components, such as headlights, windshield wipers, and more. A malfunctioning alternator can cause electrical components to operate erratically, or even cause your engine to suddenly stop running.
What to Watch For
If you experience battery trouble, there are a couple of things you may want to check before calling for service. Be sure the battery is properly secured. Vibration caused by an unsecured battery can affect battery life.
The cables to the battery terminals must be clean and tightly connected. Buildup of corrosive elements on the terminals can seriously weaken starting power. Be sure the side terminals aren’t over-tightened as well.
