When your vehicle’s battery is dead, it leaves you with that horrible, helpless feeling.  A dead battery means it won’t hold a charge, and there are several reasons it won’t.

One is age.  Batteries have chemical and electrical systems in them that create power, and as time goes by, they won’t work well anymore.  They may have been degraded by exposure to extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. Batteries have a code on them that can tell you when they were manufactured.

Another reason your battery won’t hold a charge is corrosion on the terminals, the metal posts where your battery cables are connected.  A chemical reaction between the battery’s acid and air creates a salty moisture that can corrode those terminals.  

If your vehicle’s alternator is not working properly, it won’t charge your battery as it is designed to, and the battery may lose its charge more quickly than it should. Another possibility is there might be an electrical component that’s staying on when you turn your vehicle off, and it may slowly drain the battery so much that there won’t be enough power to start your vehicle.  

When you notice any of these things, bring your vehicle in so a technician can evaluate what’s causing the problems.  We will give your electrical system a thorough inspection and run tests that can tell the health of the battery and other components.  You may be able to avoid problems by having us evaluate your electrical system regularly as part of a periodic maintenance schedule.

Tuffy Rockford
6574 E. Riverside
Loves Park, Illinois 61111
815.639.1239