I have a friend whose battery failed recently. The cause was undetermined. The battery was 1 year and a half old. Rather than drive with a battery that was suspect, he bought a new one. “I’ve heard that batteries don’t last long in the Florida heat. What should he have done?

It works like this. Typical battery life expectancy is around three years. Higher quality batteries are rated for up to 5 years. In real life, you could get lucky and end up with battery that lasts much longer than that.

Long standing times i.e. a car that is not driven for a couple weeks at a time, high temperatures which accelerate corrosion and discharging the battery accidentally by leaving the lights or another electrical device on… all contribute to the early retirement of your car battery.

Temperature extremes are bad news for battery life – Batteries are more likely to die or go flat during very cold periods as it takes more effort to start the motor in low temperatures. More current will drawn from the car battery, therefore depleting it faster. On the other hand, hot weather will also lead to increased battery corrosion and degradation.

Your pattern and habits affect battery life as well. If you often make short trips, your car battery doesn’t have the chance to recharge fully. This leads to an acid imbalance which will corrode the battery and shorten its lifespan.

How to Extend Car Battery Life

1. Don’t add new electrolyte (acid).

2. Don’t use unregulated high output battery chargers to charge batteries.

3. Don’t place your equipment and toys into storage without some type of device to keep the battery charged.

4. Don’t disconnect battery cables while the engine is running (your battery acts as a filter).

5. Don’t put off recharging batteries. Check your car owner’s manual for the battery maintenance schedule.

6. Don’t add tap water as it may contain minerals that will contaminate the electrolyte. Use only distilled water.

7. Don’t discharge a battery any deeper than you possibly have to.

8. Don’t let a battery get too hot to the touch or boil violently when charging.

9. Don’t mix battery type and sizes.

10. To extend car battery life, you should wrap a heat barrier around your battery to protect it from temperature extremes.

Lim’s Auto Body is a full service auto body and mechanical repair shop locally owned and operated in Largo, Florida. For more information, go to our web site www.limsautobody.com or call (727) 422-3232.

it’s a pretty common thing to notice that your car is shaking when you are driving it. If this

Tire changing in the professional car repair service

is happening to your, you are probably wondering what is causing it. Most cars shake for a variety of reasons including engine, steering, or brake issues. Your vehicle can also shake and vibrate because of wheel damage, uneven tread wear, tire balance issues, or neglected tire maintenance. We like to start with the simple fixes first. These tire and wheel issues are fast, easy, and affordable to fix! Reasons Your Car Shakes

If your vehicle is vibrating and shaking while you cruise down the road, you might be thinking of a dozen reasons why it is happening. What about wheel damage?

You may not even remember hitting a curb or speeding through a pothole but a variety of unnoticed scenarios can damage your wheels. Wheel damage is a leading cause of cabin vibration in your vehicle. Never ignore a bent wheel. It can cause poor handling leading to traffic accidents and premature wear on your tires.

Improper wheel alignment can cause your vehicle to veer to one side, diminish fuel efficiency, and cause your tires to wear down unevenly. Wheel alignment involves the calibrations of your wheels and your vehicle’s suspension. By adjusting certain angles your mechanic can ensure that your wheels and tires are making correct contact with the road’s surface.

Without correct contact with the road surface, your tires can wear down at different rates. Uneven tire wear can cause your wheels to become unbalanced and unbalanced wheels shake your car! This can be difficult to diagnose but a skilled auto mechanic can find the problem in a flash.

Proper maintenance can prevent most shaking and vibration. Don’t ignore these basic auto and tire maintenance. They will make your drive smoother, prevent expensive auto repairs down the road, and ensure your tires last.

Preventative Tire Maintenance and Warning Signs

• Separated Tread
• Tire Rotation
• Tire Balancing
• Low PSI
• Uneven Tread Wear
• Tires Out of Round
• Unbalanced Tires
• Cupping
• Cracks and Bulges

If you notice your vehicle shimmying and shacking down the road don’t ignore it. Have your vehicle serviced by our skilled technicians today. In fact, with a little preventative maintenance you can prevent the shaking all together. Your tires and wheels are not the only causes of cabin vibrations in your vehicle but it’s a great place to start. Schedule your maintenance with us today!

Lim’s Auto Body is a full service auto body and mechanical repair shop locally owned and operated in Largo, Florida. For more information, go to our web site www.limsautobody.com or call (727) 422-3232.