Does Your Toyota Need a New Car Battery?

The only good thing about a failing battery is that you always get warnings that something is going wrong. A battery will never just fail. It slowly degrades and provides signs of this impending problem. As your Toyota dealer, we’d like you to know some of the warnings that you may need a new car battery from us very soon.

Slow Cranking

When your turn the key or press the button, your battery sends an electrical charge to the starter motor. The starter motor initiates the crank, and your engine should start almost instantly. If your engine doesn’t start and you hear a labored cranking, you probably have a battery problem. Your battery may be worn out, and it’s unable to provide enough power for the starter motor to complete the crank.

A second possibility is that your battery is fine, but you have another electrical problem affecting your battery. The battery is connected to the starter by cables with terminal connectors at each end. The terminals might be rusted or corroded, which affects the electrical charge. The wiring might also be damaged, which prevents enough power from reaching the starter. Our technicians will check the battery and fix the problem.

Battery Warning Light

The battery-shaped warning light on the dash represents the electrical system. This light is connected to numerous sensors emplaced in your electrical system. Each of these sensors is attached to a component. The sensor’s job is to monitor its component and report to your car’s computer. The sensors can detect even minute changes in their attached components and report to your computer.

If this warning light comes on, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a battery problem. A problem in the electrical system will affect the battery, as it’s a vital part of the system. A worn battery cable, for example, can prevent the alternator from charging your battery. We’ll connect your computer to our diagnostic system to identify the problem, and then we’ll fix it.

You Have To Jump Start

If your engine will only start with a jump start, your battery needs replacement. A jump start bypasses a battery problem by providing electrical power to start your engine. Once the engine has started, the alternator will take over and provide power for your car. This allows you to keep your engine running despite a weak or dying battery.

You never need to jump-start a healthy battery. We advise calling our service department ASAP so we can investigate and fix the problem for you.

If you suspect a battery problem, don’t delay. See us at Toyota of Kingsport, and our Toyota-trained technicians will solve the problem.

Posted in Car Maintenance | No Comments »