Car Battery Replacement – Electrical System
car battery replacement.
You may put gas in the tank, but an awful lot of things on your car are powered by electricity.
The main parts of the electrical system include:
- The battery
- The starter and solenoid
- The alternator
- The lighting system
- Various accessories including the radio, windshield wiper motor, heat/ac blower motor, and more
- Fuse panel
The Battery
Your battery stores electricity for the starter to use when you crank the engine, or to operate accessories or lights when the engine isn’t running.
Because of the charge/discharge cycles and extreme weather conditions, batteries have a limited life span. The typical car battery replacement happens every 2-4 years. The first sign you’re headed for the end of that life is when your starter seems to drag when starting the car – although cold weather can cause the same symptom.
If you find you have to jump start a dead car battery, our suggestion is you drive directly here to Tires Tires Tires and we can see if you need a car battery replacement, or if there is another electrical problem. If it’s your battery, we’ll replace it with the right one for your vehicle.
Starter and Solenoid
The starter is the electrical motor that you hear when you start the car. If the starter seems to drag when you turn the key, it could be a battery issue, or you may have a starter problem. Bring your vehicle to Tires Tires Tires and we’ll tell you which one is the problem and replace it for you.
The solenoid is an electrical switch that is often part of the starter. When the solenoid fails, you hear a click when you turn the key, but the starter never turns. On some models you can save money by just replacing the solenoid. We’ll let you know if that’s an option.
Alternator
The alternator generates electricity to run all the electrical devices on your vehicle and to recharge the battery. If you notice the lights getting dimmer when you’re driving, that could mean you have a problem with the alternator. Bring it in and check it out for you.
If you’ve added lots of electrical accessories, like high powered audio system, winches, high powered off road lighting, and more, you might not have enough power to run them all on the standard alternator your vehicle came with. We’ve got some alternatives that will keep the lights on, come in and talk with us.
Lighting
Automotive light bulbs burn out just like the ones at home. Unfortunately, they are often hard to get to, especially on smaller vehicles with streamlined body styles. If you’ve got a burned out bulb tht you can’t get at, don’t wait to get a ticket or have an accident, bring your vehicle to Tires Tires Tires and we’ll change it for you.
Fuses and Accessories
One of the places to check if an accessory or light quits working is the fuse panel. You’ll have to look in the owner’s manual for the location of the panel and possibly to decipher which fuse does what. Keep in mind that fuses work like the circuit breakers in your home. If one goes out, try replacing it (always use a fuse of the same rating). If it goes out again, you have an issue that needs some attention.
Get back on the road
If you have a problem with any part of your electrical system bring it to Tires Tires Tires. Our guys know everything there is to know about automobile electrical issues and we can get you back on the road fast and save you money.
