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Many people have dealt with a dead car battery at some point. Maybe you got in your car on your way to an important event, only to have it sputter and not start. In order to avoid these inconveniences, it’s important to make sure that your car is always equipped with a good quality, working battery. At Red McCombs Toyota, we have a fantastic service department that can help you with all your battery needs. Keep reading to learn more about battery replacement and why you should come to Red McCombs next time you need one.
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Battery replacements are routine maintenance procedures that cars require from time to time. After a few years, all batteries can degrade or fail due to different causes, including:
Since these factors affect nearly all vehicles, it’s important to get regular battery inspections and replacements, especially when you experience frequent battery failures. When you take your car in for a battery replacement, your mechanic will first let the engine cool and then get to work. They’ll start by disconnecting the negative and positive battery cables. Next, they’ll remove any restraints that hold the battery in position and lift the battery out of the car. Mechanics will then clean the cables and terminals or replace any damaged components before installing a new one and reattaching the cables and restraints.
Although it’s possible to do this at home, it’s usually wise to hire an expert mechanic, especially if you don’t have prior experience. Your car’s battery is capable of giving off high-voltage shocks and contains toxic and corrosive materials, making it dangerous to replace without training and proper equipment. If you are looking for a battery replacement in the San Antonio area, we’d love to help you out at Red McCombs Toyota.
Regularly replacing your car’s battery has a wide variety of benefits, including:
Nobody wants to deal with a battery failure when they’re running late for work or on their way to an important appointment. Routine battery maintenance, including replacement, can enhance the reliability of your vehicle and give you peace of mind at all times.
Your battery is an integral part of your car and can affect its overall performance. Leaving an old or defective battery in your engine can cause dim lighting and difficult starts and strain parts like the alternator. If left unfixed, these issues can lead to more expensive and involved repairs down the line. Getting your battery replaced regularly can help you avoid these issues and increase the lifespan of other parts.
Like other parts of your car, your battery can contribute to your overall safety on the road. Factors like dimmer headlights and unreliable starts can make your drives less safe and reliable. Try to get routine maintenance and regular battery replacements to prevent these issues.
When your battery starts to fail, you’ll likely notice some signs. For example, you might notice that it takes longer to start your car or that your check engine light is flickering. You may also experience frequent battery failures, making it impossible to start it without help from other drivers. Most cars also have a battery light that will illuminate your dashboard when the battery starts to wear out.
You can also check the condition of your battery by taking a look under your hood. If you notice an odd smell like sulfur or rotting eggs when you lift the hood, your battery may be leaking, indicating the need for a replacement. You may also notice that your battery is swelling due to excessive temperatures, suggesting that it has limited life remaining. A final indication of battery damage is corrosion on the terminals and other metal parts of the battery, which usually looks like a white ashy substance accumulated on different surfaces.
Aside from these obvious signs of battery failure, it’s a good idea to have your battery replaced regularly. Even if your battery isn’t visibly damaged, it is still degenerating and losing some of its function. Most car batteries have a lifespan of about three to six years, so if your battery falls within this range, consider taking it to a mechanic for an evaluation. Make sure that you also get a general inspection at least once a year. During these visits, your mechanic will check the health of your battery.
If you need a battery inspection or replacement in the San Antonio, Texas, area, consider coming into Red McCombs Toyota. We have years of experience serving our community and take pride in treating our customers like valued neighbors. Aside from maintaining a large inventory of new and used vehicles, we have a reputable service center that can help you with all your maintenance needs, including battery replacement. Our trained technicians will give you the highest possible quality of service and would love to install a high-quality, genuine Toyota TrueStart battery in your car.
These batteries are manufactured to an exactingly high standard and provide excellent performance for Toyota vehicles in any climate. We also take pride in reducing our environmental impact and take the proper steps to dispose of your old battery. If you’re ready to bring your car in, you can schedule service easily online. Our service center also offers a variety of parts specials for various components. If we don’t have a promotion on what you need right now, check back later, as we update our discounts often.
That’s a quick overview of battery replacement and why it’s important. We hope you’ll agree that Red McCombs Toyota is the best place to get a new, high-quality battery in the San Antonio area. If you need a battery replacement, you can contact us at any time to set an appointment at a time that works for you. If you’re looking for a car, we have an extensive inventory of new and used vehicles that you can check out online. We hope to see you soon at Red McCombs Toyota in San Antonio.
What is an OEM Toyota Part?
OEM stands for “original equipment manufacturer”. In other words, an OEM part is a part built by the manufacturer for that specific vehicle. There are aftermarket parts you can purchase but an OEM part comes with a warranty. If you choose to use a part that is not OEM approved, you could potentially lose your warranty on your Toyota and not receive any benefit when trading in your vehicle etc.
Do you offer a warranty?
All OEM Toyota parts are covered by the nationwide Toyota factory warranty.
How do replacement parts affect my vehicle’s warranty?
Genuine OEM Toyota parts have no effect on your vehicle’s warranty.
How can I be sure the part I need will fit my vehicle?
The best way is to contact us. We have Master Certified Toyota experts waiting to help you with finding the right part for your vehicle. We look forward to hearing from you!
What are your Customer Service hours?
We are open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 7 pm and Saturdays from 7 am to 4 pm.
What is a VIN and why do I need it?
Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) tells us everything we need to know about your Toyota.
Where can I find my VIN?
The easiest place to find your Toyota’s VIN is on your auto insurance card, but you can also find it on your registration or even on the driver’s door jam or at the base of the windshield on the driver’s side.
