topic Re: Car Trouble in Community Chat

Car Trouble

May5 — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 18:53:07 GMT

Where would you take your car to get it checked if it started sometimes and other days you had to jump it. Could it be the battery the alternator or what? I just don't know where to turn. Thank you

Re: Car Trouble

spumoni99 — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 18:55:21 GMT

@May5 wrote:
Where would you take your car to get it checked if it started sometimes and other days you had to jump it. Could it be the battery the alternator or what? I just don't know where to turn. Thank you

How old is your battery?

Re: Car Trouble

DJs mom — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 18:57:42 GMT

If you have an AutoZone near you they will do a free battery check and let you know if your battery is weak. If it isn't the battery, I would go to a mechanic and have them run a diagnostic check on your car. They will tell you if it is the battery of alternator or something else.

Re: Car Trouble

Estellee — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 18:58:43 GMT

Maybe the dealer if you don't have a mechanic that you use on a regular basis.

Re: Car Trouble

May5 — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 18:59:31 GMT

I think my battery is about 3 years old.

Re: Car Trouble

89135 — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 19:05:21 GMT

I had that trouble about a month ago...Started sluggish and then wouldn't start at all...Thought it was battery and called AAA...Wasn't the battery..Had to have it towed to a mechanic shop and it was the Starter...Ugh! Thank goodness it was in my garage at the time...Do take it in somewhere to have it checked out before you get somewhere and it won't start at all.....BTW..my battery is 3 years old also. It's still going strong so far.

Re: Car Trouble

spumoni99 — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 19:03:06 GMT

@May5 wrote:
I think my battery is about 3 years old.

I would change the battery or have autozone or someone check it for you but most batteries don't last much longer than 3 years. If you buy one at walmart they will put it in the car for you.

Re: Car Trouble

m0rgan — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 19:03:09 GMT

My husband told me batteries generally only last 3 years so I would start there.

Re: Car Trouble

shelbyshelbyshelby — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 19:04:11 GMT

How old is your car ? Take it to the dealership. Get it repaired the right way and you will save much time. It may be costly but you will save in the long run .

Re: Car Trouble

Jersey Born — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 19:10:00 GMT

With my last vehicle, I had trouble starting it on some days. I had the battery checked and replaced. I had the starter checked and replaced.. The same problem starting the vehicle continued to occur. The culprit turned out to be the main relay switch, which had to be replaced. It took the dealership three visits to find the issue and repair it properly.

Best wishes to you to find a reputable mechanic to pinpoint the problem and fix it.

Re: Car Trouble

RespectLife — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 19:38:03 GMT

@DJs mom wrote:
If you have an AutoZone near you they will do a free battery check and let you know if your battery is weak. If it isn't the battery, I would go to a mechanic and have them run a diagnostic check on your car. They will tell you if it is the battery of alternator or something else.

@May5

I agree w/ @DJs mom

I wouldn't take it to a dealer!!! AutoZone, Advanced and Napa will all check your battery for free.

Rule that out b4 paying elsewhere!!!

Re: Car Trouble

Sage04 — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 19:48:00 GMT

Batteries now a days only last 2-3 years. I remember when they lasted 5 years. What's up with that?

Yes, Auto Zone or something of that nature would be able to check it for you.

Re: Car Trouble

Sage04 — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 19:51:09 GMT

@May5 if it's the battery check to see if it's still under warranty and if so, take it back to the place you bought it and they should give you a new one. This happen to me recently and I had 4 months left.

Re: Car Trouble

Snowpuppy — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 20:00:27 GMT

Just a heads up about Auto Zone, since Covid, they no longer hook up the diagnostic tool for you.

You go into the store, request the tool and you hook it up to your vehicle yourself then run the diagnostics yourself.

Take a flashlight and be prepared to crawl under your dash.

Re: Car Trouble

May5 — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 20:07:13 GMT

Really? I wouldn't think they would wan't that kind of responsibility on them.

Re: Car Trouble

LTT1 — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 20:59:06 GMT

@May5

@Snowpuppy @RespectLife @RespectLife @Jersey Born

Easiest cure would be if it needed a new battery.

I take mine around the corner to Midas.

The place near me said that a diagnostic test will be $159

If they put a new battery in and the problem still exists, they will probably tell you next that it is the alternator. If they do this tell them to,put the old battery back in and then let them install an alternator.

Good luck!

Re: Car Trouble

elated — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 21:15:49 GMT

If you have a Valvoline Instant Oil Change near you, they will check the battery and replace it. They perform many services and are excellent. I go to them and have never had a problem.

If not I would try a local repair shop, I think they are usually less expensive than a dealer and more competent. At least, that has been my experience with my local repair shops.

Re: Car Trouble

Nightowlz — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 21:48:59 GMT

Take it to Auto Zone so they can check the battery. If it's not the battery ask them if they think it's the alternator. If they don't know ask them if they know where you should get it checked out.

I have never heard of a battery only lasting 3 yrs. My car is 11 yrs old now. We have bought 1 battery. I think it was around $175.

Re: Car Trouble

speedy girl — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 21:59:23 GMT

This exact same thing just happened to me! I took it into the local tire shop that sells batteries too. It was the battery and they also said the alternator is going bad too. So I was glad to know that and now took it to my regular mechanic. But I did get the battery at the tire store, so that is done.

Re: Car Trouble

BlueFinch — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 22:46:54 GMT

I purchased a new battery a few months ago, after the old one died at almost exactly three years. I asked the mechanic how long I might expect the new one to last. The mechanic noted a high quality battery was installed, but now days, you're lucky if they last three years.

It made me wonder if they're just being made lousy, or if they're just having more difficulty handling the sophisticated, high energy use vehicles of today. Not good, if so. More waste.

I do know that a bad alternator is always to be checked first, if a fairly new battery is not holding a charge. Even when the engine is off, a bad alternator can drain the battery. But, if the battery is at, or nearing, three years old, I'd suspect the battery is dying.