Back to all

Battery Basics for Plainfield

May 1, 2017

drive

It's important for Plainfield drivers to know battery basics. First, let's talk about which is harder on a battery – hot or cold Illinois weather. Most Plainfield area drivers think it's cold weather because that's when we call on our batteries to have enough power to start a cold vehicle engine.

However, heat does more damage to a battery than cold. Truth is, our batteries start to die a little from day one. Keeping a full charge slows the process, which is hard with short Plainfield trips because the alternator doesn't have time to fully recharge the battery from starting the engine. Plainfield drivers can top off the charge with a computer controlled battery charger – say, once a month in the summer and every three months during the winter.

As far as how long a battery will last, statistics show that 70% have given up the ghost within four years. By that time, they aren't capable of taking a full charge like they used to, and your vehicle alternator has to work overtime to keep up. This causes your alternator to wear out early.

If you're pushing 4 to 5 years on your battery, see your friendly and knowledgeable Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield service assistant for a battery test to see if it's recommended to replace it. Not only can you avoid getting stranded with a dead battery on a Illinois road, but you'll save unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle alternator.

Give us a call.

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield
23846 W 135th St
Plainfield, Illinois 60544
815-436-1337

 

More articles from Tuffy Plainfield

TCB your PCV (PCV Valve Replacement)

March 15, 2026

Your gasoline engine goes through some exhausting work. Yes, it's truly exhausting, as in: it produces exhaust! And when your engine starts behaving like it's exhausted, such as running poorly or getting lousy fuel economy, the trouble may be something called a PCV valve. Did you know it's a ser... More

Don't Start with That (Bad Starter Motor)

March 8, 2026

We've all heard that expression, "That's a non starter." When it comes to your vehicle, that's not music to a driver's ears. That sickening sound when you start the ignition and instead of hearing the engine crank, you hear it slowly turn over and your dash lights go dim. There can be many reaso... More

Losing Your Cool (AC Condenser Replacement)

March 1, 2026

Its always more comfortable in your vehicle when you can control temperature and humidity in the cabin. Air conditioning, which is standard on most newer vehicles, is a vital part of that comfort, and a key component of that system is the condenser. The condenser converts the refrigerant gas into... More