Your car’s battery is the heart of your car. It stores the electricity created by the alternator and uses it to run the critical ignition and fuel systems as well as the secondary electrical systems you rely on to stay comfortable and safe. (Think your interior lights, turn signals, car windows, radio, and headlights.) Keeping your battery in good working order is an important part of keeping your car on the road and you on the move.

When your car struggles to start or doesn’t start at all, that’s a good indicator that your battery, or car’s electrical system, needs to be checked out. Our Memphis-based automotive experts can quickly diagnose your car’s battery or electrical system issues and recommend the best solution to get your car in peak working order.

The first clue that your battery may be running low and due for a replacement is if your car struggles to start or doesn’t start at all. The quickest and easiest solution may be to get a friend, family member, neighbor, or mechanic to give your car a jump start. If a jump start revives your battery, make sure to leave it running for a while or take your car on a long drive to ensure that the battery builds up the charge capacity it needs to start again.

In order to extend the life of your car’s battery, make sure you shut your doors tightly and turn off all interior and exterior lights when the car is not in use. Also check the battery terminals for rust and corrosion and clean away any that you find. Once the terminals are clean, you can add anti-corrosive protection to keep it cleaner longer. Finally, make sure all the connections to the battery are tight and tighten any that seem to be loose.

If your car battery doesn’t respond to a jump start, odds are you will need to replace the battery. Our technicians are experts at diagnosing battery issues and can recommend the right battery for your car and driving habits. Unfortunately, there is usually little to no warning before your battery fails. If your battery is more than five years old, we have the right tools and experience to review your battery’s performance and let you know if you need to start planning to replace it.

No matter what symptoms you notice, our experienced automotive technicians can get it diagnosed, repaired, and you back on the road quickly and easily.

The starter is the part of your engine that kicks everything in gear when you turn the car’s key. It relies on the saved charge from the battery to crank the engine and get you on the road. There are lots of different kinds of starters and, unfortunately, there’s not much you can do in the way of routine maintenance to keep it working properly.

The best thing you can do is to bring your car to one of our expert technicians when you start to suspect your starter may be malfunctioning. The big sign that you may need a new starter is when your car doesn’t start. Additionally, if you hear a clicking sound when you turn the key or your car starts slower than normal, those are also signs that your car’s starter needs some attention.

No matter what symptoms you notice, our experienced automotive technicians can get it diagnosed, repaired, and you back on the road quickly and easily.