Community Chat

[RespectLife]

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@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.

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@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!!!

[Sage04]

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.

[Sage04]

@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.

[Snowpuppy]

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. 

[May5]

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

[LTT1]

@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!

[elated]

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.

[Nightowlz]

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.

[speedy girl]

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. 

[BlueFinch]

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.