Battery Service Articles |

3 Common Issues Your Car Battery Can Have

April 7, 2020/in Battery Delivery, Battery Installation, Battery Service, car battery, News /by Dugger Services

A faulty or dead car battery will ruin your day and possibly your week. Now, you have to call a friend to help you get to an auto shop to purchase a new battery.

You can see how your inconvenience is becoming a bigger nightmare for everyone.

Make sure you know the three common car battery problems so you can form solutions and prevent further issues.

1. Corrosion of the Battery

An obvious issue for battery failure is when the battery acid has started to corrode the unit.

The positive and negative terminals on the top of your battery are the points for charging the battery and for the alternator.

Mild corrosion may prevent you from jump-starting the battery or the alternator from charging up the battery when you turn the ignition.

A big sign of corrosion is discolored growths on and around the positive and negative terminals. Expect to see green or blue fungus-like acid on the battery. Another sign of corrosion is a white powder forming.

Battery corrosion is a normal process of the life cycle of a car battery. Small signs of corrosion don’t warrant any panic.

You can remove some acid by wiping it away with a dry rag. For tougher acid corrosion, use a wire brush carefully.

2. Car Battery Problems Are Age-Related

It shouldn’t be a shock that an old battery will die on you. The concept is the same as batteries in a TV remote or clock. Eventually, the battery will have no charge left.

The average lifespan of a battery is up to five years but can be as short as three years depending on climate.

Monitor the age of the car battery and test it regularly.

Parking a car in a garage and not using it can also create battery problems. The alternator in the car charges the battery. If you’re not using the car, the battery continues to drain even if it’s not in use.

It’s good to use all your vehicles occasionally to prevent the battery from dying. You can use a battery charger if you’re unable to use a vehicle for a while.

By knowing the age and watching your battery for signs of failure, you can prevent being caught off-guard on the road. Luckily, there are professionals who can assist you in that event.

3. Cold Climates

Have you ever noticed that your car battery always seems to die during the winter? There’s a reason for that.

Car batteries nearing the end of their life will freeze at relatively cold temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fully charged car batteries are 60% weaker at zero degrees outside.

Unless you have a garage to store your vehicle at night, it might be helpful to keep a portable battery starter in the house.

Look for signs that the battery is dying by watching for dimming lights or clicking sounds when you turn over the ignition.

Drive With Confidence

Knowing the common car battery problems allows you to prevent the issues and form solutions so you aren’t caught stranded on the road.

Even the basic warning your car battery is on its last leg will help you.

If you become stranded without help, contact us for our mobile battery service so we can get you back on the road.

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We Are Here to provide your Essential Services

March 24, 2020/in Albuquerque, AZ, Battery Delivery, Battery Installation, Battery Service, Community, Health Advisory, Jump Start, News, NM, Phoenix, Rio Rancho, Tucson /by Dugger Services

Delivering Essential Services, just like we do everyday. Your automobile still needs to start and if you have a dead battery, you can call Dugger’s Emergency Road Service. Battery, Flat Tire, Emergency Fuel Delivery. We offer “hands free” service for your protection and that of our employees.

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What Are the Signs of a Bad Car Battery?

January 30, 2020/in Albuquerque, AZ, Battery Delivery, Battery Installation, Battery Service, car battery, Jump Start, News, NM, Phoenix /by Dugger Services

According to Arizona State Troopers, over 75,235 individuals have their car break down on the side of a road. Broken-down cars create safety issues for the car owner as well as other cars on the road.

The heat in the area makes broken-down cars more frequent in the area. If your car has stopped unexpectedly, there may be many causes. Often, the culprit is your car’s battery.

Read on to learn about the signs of a bad car battery and what you can do if you find yourself stopped on the side of the road.

Know The Signs of a Bad Car Battery

As with most things, it is best to leave the big repairs to the experts. However, below are some common signs that you need to replace your battery.

Corrosion or Film on Your Battery

You should regularly pop the hood of your car and visually inspect your battery.

If you see a lot of fluffy blue corrosion or a clear film across the top of the battery case, your battery is giving off acidic fumes or is leaking battery acid. This is a sign it needs to be replaced.

Age

All batteries eventually fail with most needing replacement 3-5 years after installation. Extreme temperature fluctuations and repeated cycles of the car starting speed up the battery aging process.

If your car seems to need a regular jump-start, we will send a technician to your house to replace your battery at a time that works for your schedule.

Your Car is Slow to Start

When your car is slow to turn over, makes a whirring sound, or is just sluggish to start the cause is typically a failing battery.

As your battery fails, you may also experience just clicks as you start your car. This is a more severe symptom, so get your battery tested and if needed replace it.

What Does Your Battery Light Indicate?

Yes, there is a battery light in your car. It should and does come on when you start your car. If all systems are a go, this light will go out as soon as your car starts.

If the light comes on while you are driving, that is not usually your battery but your alternator. Your car’s battery starts the car; your alternator generates the power that keeps it running, while it recharges the battery.

A battery light shows that your car is running off the battery because the alternator isn’t doing its job. A trained mechanic should address this quickly, so you don’t break down on the side of a road.

It is always frustrating when your car breaks down. However, the solution is not always expensive. Now that you know the signs of an aging or dead battery, you can better troubleshoot issues and hopefully change the battery before you end up stranded.

Did Your Car Break Down?

If you are in the the Phoenix & Tucson, AZ area or Albuquerque & Rio Rancho, NM area, you should know the number for Dugger’s Emergency Roadside Services. Grab your phone and enter this number into your contacts: (877) 823-9696.

We are here to help you with towing and emergency roadside assistance. We know the signs of a bad car battery, and we can deliver a replacement battery wherever you are.

Don’t just believe us, read our satisfied customers’ reviews.

4 Common Causes Of Car Breakdowns

January 24, 2020/in Battery Delivery, Battery Service, car battery, Jump Start, News, Tire Service /by Dugger Services

Just under half of all car owners experience a battery failure in a single year. If your car suddenly stopped running, would you know what to do or what was wrong?

If you experience a broken down car, there are a few common culprits that you should consider first. Follow our guide for the most common car problems to know how to get back on the road again.

1. Dead Battery

The number one reason people get stuck somewhere is because of a dead battery. You’ll know your battery is dead when you try to start your car, and you hear nothing. You may also hear the starter motor as if it’s grinding down to a stop.

What’s happening is that there’s a lack of power flowing from the battery. To fix this, you need to replace your battery.

The easiest way is to call a jump start service. They can get your car running again so you can go to the nearest store, buy a battery, and replace yours. We recommend making things even easier by buying the battery directly from the jump start service and having them install it.

2. Tires

The second most common reason for a car breaking down is a flat tire. You’ll know you have a flat tire if one of your rims is sitting on the ground. You may also hear a loud pop if you drive over something sharp, and the tire pops.

Do not drive your car with a flat tire. This will bend the rim and cost you more money. Call a flat tire service to come out and replace the flat tire with your spare. Then go to your nearest tire center and buy a new tire.

3. Ran out of Fuel

If you fail to fill your gas tank, it will run out of gas. A car without fuel doesn’t run. If you suspect that you’ve run out of fuel, look at your gas gauge to confirm.

If for any reason, you run out of gas, you can call a fuel delivery service to bring you gas. This is easier than trying to push your car to the nearest gas station or lug containers of fuel back to your vehicle.

4. Alternator

The electrical components use power from the battery to run. You need to recharge the battery, so it lasts.

The alternator is what recharges the battery. It converts power from the engine to do this.

If you see flickering lights, battery warning light, or dimmed lights, then you may have a dying alternator. Once the alternator dies, you’ll need to replace it and possibly your battery to get driving again.

Get Help for Your Broken Down Car

If you find yourself stuck with a broken down car, then having an emergency service on-call can be a lifesaver. We specialize in providing emergency assistance for a variety of vehicle-related problems.

We can help you with a car battery installation, fuel delivery, flat tire, or windshield chip.

Contact our team today if you need emergency roadside service, we proudly serve Albuquerque, Phoenix, and Tucson.

How do cooler temperatures affect my car battery?

October 11, 2019/in Battery Delivery, Battery Installation, Battery Service, car battery, Jump Start, News /by Dugger Services

As the weather changes, we forget that the most damage happens to our car battery in the summer heat. Summertime is harshest on an automotive battery. Often the damage done to a battery happens when it’s hot, but the failure may not happen until it is cold. Heat accelerates corrosion and leads to electrolyte loss that weakens the battery’s energy levels. Fuel injection systems may mask a weaker battery.

When the temperatures drop suddenly, colder temperatures reduce cranking power available. When this is combined with thicker motor oil and slower cranking, the battery may not have enough juice to start your vehicle. We are here for you when that happens, whether you need a jump start or an on the spot battery installation.

Don’t Get Stranded, Call Dugger’s

New Car Battery delivered and installed

Dugger’s Emergency Battery Services

August 21, 2019/in AZ, Battery Delivery, Battery Installation, Battery Service, News /by Dugger Services

Don’t get stranded. A dead battery is no surprise in the heat. But, you don’t want to be stuck. Call Dugger’s Emergency Road Service. 1-877-823-9696

Excessive Heat Advisory

July 16, 2019/in AZ, Battery Delivery, Battery Service, Heat Advisory, Phoenix, Tucson /by Dugger Services

A DEAD BATTERY?

Dead Battery? Could be. There is an excessive heat advisory in effect for southern Arizona. Phoenix hit 114º today and Tucson, AZ is 111º today.

Take precautions if traveling outside or on the road today. Excessive heat can lead to mechanical failure on your vehicle. Most common heat induced problems are the following:

Dead Battery – a dead battery that needs a jump start or a new car battery installed.
Flat Tire – Extreme heat effects tire pressure and could result in a flat tire from additional flexibility in worn tires.
Coolant leak or coolant failure – you may need to get your vehicle to a service center. A coolant problem could result in engine damage and lead to a call for a tow truck to an automotive repair facility.

Dugger’s Emergency Road Services will help you escape the Phoenix and Tucson heat if you get stranded. Our qualified technicians come to you and help address the issue on the spot. New automotive battery installs, flat tire change, emergency fuel delivery and windshield chip repair.