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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

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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

How do I know I need new tires?

August 12, 2019/in Flat Tire, News, Tire Service /by Dugger Services

At Dugger’s Emergency Road Service, we can help you fix a flat tire on the side of the road. You need to know when your tires need to be replaced. The federal government doesn’t currently have any laws for tread depth, but 42 of the states, and all of Canada, do have regulations. They consider 2/32 of an inch to be the minimum legal tread depth. We used to use a penny for the depth test on your tire, but now for a better safety standard, that same test is now done with a quarter.

Consider this: Consumer Reports recommends tire replacement when tread reaches 4/32 inch/3.2 mm. And the recommendation is backed by some very compelling studies. Now before we go into the studies, you need to know that the issue is braking on wet surfaces. We tend to think of the brakes doing all the stopping, but Albuquerque vehicles also need to have effective tires to actually stop the car. When it’s wet or snowy in Albuquerque, NM, the tread of the tire is critical to the stopping power of your vehicle.

Partially worn tires – at the depth recommended by Consumer Reports – the car was still going at 45 mph/72 kph at the point where new tires brought the car to a halt. The tests were conducted with the same vehicles but with different sets of tires. The brakes were the same, so the only variable was the tires.

How can people in Albuquerque tell when their tires are at 4/32 inch/3.2 mm? Just insert an American quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn’t cover George Washington’s hairline, it’s time to replace your tires.

Now you may remember doing that with pennies. But an American penny gives you 2/32 inch/1.6 mm to Abraham Lincoln’s head. The quarter is the new standard – 4/32 inch/3.2 mm.

Tires are a big ticket item, and most people in Albuquerque, NM, want to get thousands of miles/kilometers out of them. Just remember: driving on bald tires is like playing roulette. If you lose and end up with a flat tire, call Dugger’s Emergency Road Service. Dugger’s provides tire changes and other emergency roadside assistance services.

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Hot Temperatures, Dead Batteries

June 7, 2019/in Albuquerque, AZ, Battery Delivery, Battery Installation, Battery Service, car battery, News, NM, Phoenix /by Dugger Services

The FIRST THING to act up when it heats up is your BATTERY!

If you have an old battery that isn’t holding its charge, one good heat spell could leave you stranded. If that happens call Dugger’s Road Service.

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How can my car battery last longer?

April 16, 2019/in Battery Delivery, Battery Installation, car battery, Jump Start, News /by Dugger Services

Dead Battery? Tired Battery? Wanting to get more life out of that new battery replacement we just installed? Let’s face, it all starts with the car battery. Proper battery maintenance is important for two reasons:

Your car won’t start or run without a battery. So, it’s slightly crucial. A quality battery installment is the key to the long life of your auto electrical system. Your alternator has to make up for it, when If your battery isn’t working efficiently. Electrical components can add wear as well.

Batteries are very sensitive to changes in the southwest weather. High temperatures really affect automotive battery performance. A car battery inspection is an important part of your seasonal checkups. Next time you check your oil (hopefully every other time you fill up), look over your battery. See if it is:

Clean of residue? A dirty battery will drain more quickly.
Clean of corrosion at the terminals where the battery cables attach to the battery? Corrosion interferes with how electricity passes back and forth through the car battery.
Check the cables. Make sure they are tight.
Corrosion can actually eat through the battery cables. Are the cables corroded?

Your battery will also last longer if you keep your fuel system and ignition system clean. It’s all part of your commitment to regular maintenance, to keep your vehicle running on for a longer period of time. If you are stranded or stuck because of a dead battery Call Dugger’s.

Don’t Drink and Drive

March 17, 2019/0 Comments/in DWI, News, Towing /by Dugger Services

Call Dugger’s

505-823-9696

7601 San Pedro Dr. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109

It’s much better if we tow your car because you asked us to, than if we tow it at the request of law enforcement. Call us before you think about getting behind the wheel.