Wired! (Battery Cable Service)

relayapi on June 1, 2025

Colder weather brings out the worst in a vehicle’s battery.  On a very cold day, you may have experienced that your engine cranks slowly when starting.  But while it may be the battery itself, it may also be the parts that transfer the power to other the other electrical components, the battery cables.  After all, you have to have some way to get the current out of the battery and out to where it needs to go.

Battery cables have a couple of enemies: corrosion and age.  You may have looked under the hood and noticed a light-colored powder or crust around the terminals.  That’s what happens when acids corrode the ends of the battery terminals.  Corrosion inhibits the connection and may reduce the amount of power getting to the electrical accessories to the point where they are not working correctly, if at all.

Here are some symptoms of problems with your battery cables. You might notice a clicking sound when you turn the key, some of your vehicle’s electrical parts (like the sound system or the horn) don’t work or, in some cases, the vehicle won’t start at all.

When you take your vehicle to a repair facility, the technician will use instruments to check voltages to see how much current is getting to what location. That includes a starter draw test during which the battery’s voltage is checked when the starter is cranked.  The technician will also visually inspect the cables and the charging system. To make sure the alternator is putting out the right voltage, the technician will measure that as well. 

If the problem is found to be the battery cable assembly, the entire set may have to be replaced. Sometimes they can be repaired. 

During the colder months, it’s vital that your vehicle has the proper power going to its electrical components.  Having a vehicle that won’t start or run smoothly is not something you want to battle with when you’re already up against challenging weather.  Keep your electrons flowing… and your vehicle moving.

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

Cayenne Takes Charge! (Battery Testing)

relayapi on April 27, 2025

cay

It’s a beautiful day here in Los Altos!  Hi Cayenne here and being the alpha dog in my household, I am in charge.  So today I thought we would bark about taking charge…..battery testing your vehicle that is.  Let’s charge into this subject and get electrified!

OK, so you probably take your vehicle’s battery for granted.  Turn the key or push a button and it starts right up.  During times of warmer weather, you probably think your battery can take it easy.  But it may surprise you to learn that hot weather can be much harder on a vehicle’s battery than cold.  So it’s wise to know what condition your battery is in BEFORE you find out the hard way—being stranded by a dead battery.

Your vehicle’s battery won’t last forever; an average battery will last 3-5 years.  When’s the last time yours was replaced? You probably have no idea.  Your vehicle will usually give you some hints that it’s in need of attention.  See if any of these are familiar:

  • your engine doesn’t turn over as quickly as it used to
  • your headlights are a little dimmer
  • your Check Engine or Battery dashboard light is on
  • you hear a click when you try to start your vehicle
  • some electrical equipment in your vehicle isn’t behaving the way it used to
  • your engine smells like rotten eggs
  • the terminals on your battery are corroded
  • your battery was made more than 4 years ago

Even if there are no signs your battery is on its last legs, it’s a good idea to have it periodically checked at your vehicle service facility, at least once a year. A technician will check the date it was made (it’s on the battery’s case). They’ll inspect your battery, cables and connections, looking for corrosion, bulges in the battery or any other abnormal signs.

Using special diagnostic equipment, the technician can run some tests on your battery and vehicle’s electrical systems. They can measure how fully charged your battery is and how much potential it has to hold a charge.  Then, your service advisor will tell you how much more life to expect from your battery or recommend it be replaced. 

It you need a new one, your service advisor can recommend options for you. Important factors include brand, warranty, where the terminals are on the battery, the ability to handle different cranking loads and temperature ranges.  Bet you didn’t know vehicle batteries can be that different!

I leave you with this quote for thought about being in charge,

“Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain’t the lead dog, the scenery never changes.” – Lewis Grizzard

Cayenne

cay

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

Cayenne Is Taking the Heat (Batteries in Hot Weather)

relayapi on April 13, 2025

cay

Cayenne here, and I have a quick question for you.  Which is tougher on a vehicle’s battery, the heat or the cold? Believe it or not, it’s the heat.  Think about it.  The battery often sits in the engine compartment next to that motor, generating lots of heat.  That can accelerate corrosion in the battery and may even cause water in it to evaporate.  That will weaken your battery’s cranking power and shorten its life span.

Here are a few suggestions for taking care of your battery.  It’s a good idea to have it checked out to see what shape it’s in.  Your vehicle service facility has diagnostic equipment that can evaluate its condition.  That can help you know how long you can expect it to last before replacing it.  At the same time, you should have your charging system evaluated.  If your battery is not getting charged correctly, it can be in great shape but not very useful when starting your vehicle.  A technician will also check the cable connections to ensure they are free of corrosion and tight.

Keep in mind that a vehicle battery can explode if it is close to an electrical spark under certain conditions. This is why it is safe to have a qualified, trained technician do the work. 

Your battery is essential in both hot and cold weather. Ensure it’s always up to the job when starting your vehicle.

I leave you with my heat quote for the week,

“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”  ~  Eleanor Roosevelt

Cayenne

cay

Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com

A Clean Connection (Battery Cleaning)

relayapi on May 26, 2024

A clean connection is a wonderful thing.  Think of a good cell phone signal or an airline connection with ample time and short distance to the next gate. Good connections are also important for your vehicle’s battery, and one secret to that is to make sure it’s periodically cleaned.

If it’s been a while since you have had any service to your battery, bring it in so we can inspect it for any corrosion that might have formed.  Corrosion on the battery terminals will affect the connection between the battery and your vehicle’s electrical system. The amount of corrosion you can expect can be influenced by such things as the kind of climate you live in (dry or humid, warm or cold), if there’s lots of salt on the roads and how old your battery is.  

We have tools and chemicals to safely remove the corrosion for an optimal electrical connection. In order to reduce the amount of corrosion re-forming on the battery, we’ll apply a special protective coating.  

It’s also important to have your battery tested, especially if it’s more than a few years old or hasn’t been tested in a while.  Our equipment can measure how well a battery holds a charge and how much more life you should expect from it. We can discuss when you might expect to buy a new one, since a battery is definitely the kind of thing you don’t want to have fail you when you’re least expecting it.

Tylers Auto TV
12485 SW MAIN ST
TIGARD, OR 97223
(503) 639-5588
http://www.tylersautomotive.com

Feeling Powerless (Why Is My Battery Light On?)

relayapi on February 18, 2024

When one of your vehicle’s warning lights comes on, the first thing that comes to mind is, “Oh, no, what’s wrong now?” When it’s the battery light, it means there’s something wrong with your vehicle’s battery or charging system.  And because both are important for your vehicle to work properly, it’s a good idea to get it checked out.  Here are some things that may cause a battery light to illuminate.

It could be that your battery has failed.  It could be on its last legs or completely dead.  When it isn’t showing it has the voltage it should, your vehicle lets you know.

If it’s not the battery itself, it could be the system that charges it.  The alternator is part of that system and could have a problem.  It could be putting out no power, too little power, or too much.  The alternator may not be working because the belt that drives it (using the engine’s mechanical power) could be broken or slipping.  Or the alternator pulley may be broken.

The alternator needs to have a solid connection to the battery, and sometimes the posts that connect to the battery cables get so corroded, they can’t conduct enough electricity. Or it could be that a battery cable isn’t conducting power properly. 

Because the alternator supplies power to other parts of your vehicle, if it gets overloaded, it will also cause your battery light to come on.  Other possibilities are an electrical short in the charging system or a failed voltage regulator.

Your vehicle may be hard to start or it may not start at all if you have any of these problems. It’s important to bring it in to us so we can diagnose and repair the problem before you wind up stranded… and feeling really powerless.  

Tylers Auto TV
12485 SW MAIN ST
TIGARD, OR 97223
(503) 639-5588
http://www.tylersautomotive.com

A Head Start on Starting (Battery Testing)

relayapi on February 19, 2023

If your vehicle isn’t starting or doesn’t sound like it used to when you crank it, the culprit may be the battery.  You may have left a light on, or something plugged into one of charging ports.  Maybe you accidentally left your vehicle in the “on” or “accessory” position when you last got out. Maybe you’ve left it in the garage or driveway for a long time without starting it.  That can spell the end for a vehicle battery.

It’s also possible that your battery is just simply too old. There’s no standard lifespan of a battery, but 3-5 years is about average, even though some people only get 2 and heavier duty batteries may last many more. It’s possible your battery is defective, too.  And it could be your vehicle’s charging system isn’t recharging the battery. 

Whatever the cause, if you’re having problems with your battery, it’s a good idea to bring it in and have us perform a thorough battery test.  With state-of-the-art testing equipment, a technician will see if there’s a bad cell in the battery or if it can be recharged.  We will also look at the date it was made. 

At the same time, the technician will look at the whole charging system, including the alternator, starter, cables, and connections.  From there, the service advisor can go through your options. 

Your best chance of not getting stranded by a dead battery is to have your system checked as part of a regular maintenance plan.  That should give you a head start on dependable starts.

Tylers Auto TV
12485 SW MAIN ST
TIGARD, OR 97223
(503) 639-5588
http://www.tylersautomotive.com