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Signs You Need a New Car Battery From Your Dealer

Your car depends on a healthy battery to start your engine. Over time your battery will slowly wear out and eventually fail. As your used car dealer, we can test your battery and replace it or repair any damaged components to ensure it's working correctly. We like you to know some signs that you'll probably need a new car battery soon.

Your Battery Is Old

A car battery usually works effectively for three to five years before it needs replacement. With good care, a battery can last for up to six years. Inevitably, your battery will age and start to fail. Battery failure is usually caused by the breakdown of chemicals inside the battery, but can also occur due to other worn or damaged components. There are tell-tale signs that your battery is failing, including increasing difficulty in starting the engine and dim interior and headlights when your engine is switched off. These signs aren't definitive, and they can be caused by other issues. We recommend booking a battery check-up. We'll connect your battery to our battery tester and check its health. If it's failing, we can install a new one for you.

Phantom Drain

A phantom drain is a strange situation where your battery is working perfectly and then is almost dead. This situation usually occurs overnight when the engine is switched off. When your engine isn't running, the battery supplies power to all your devices, including the alarm, lights, and other accessories. These systems don't place a strain on a healthy battery. The phantom drain is caused by an electrical system that doesn't switch off when it should. The glove box and trunk lights are two of the main systems affected. These lights will remain on due to an electrical fault and will drain significant amounts of power in just a few hours. If you experienced a phantom drain, we'll trace the source of the drain and repair it to fix this problem.

Rotten Egg Smell

A nasty rotten egg smell from the engine usually means your battery is failing. A failing battery leads to the creation of hydrogen sulfide gas, which causes corrosion and hastens battery failure. It can also be due to a faulty alternator that provides too much power to your battery. The alternator is responsible for recharging your battery and usually does this very efficiently. A worn alternator could be supplying more power to the battery than it should. This additional power increases the temperature in the battery and causes the chemicals to boil. The boiling chemicals produce a harsh rotten egg smell. We'll examine your alternator and install a new one if necessary. If your battery is failing, call us right away at Duncan Suzuki! Our rigorously trained technicians will fix the problem!
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Spring Auto Services To Prepare Your Car For Warmer Weather

Changing weather can be really tough on your car. Whether it's pollen and allergens clogging your air filter or cold weather tearing up your windshield wipers, there are countless effects the changing of the seasons can have on your vehicle. That's why it's important to bring your car in for some seasonal maintenance. Here at Duncan Suzuki, we're prepared to get your vehicle back on the road and ready to tackle the current road conditions. Here are some auto services we recommend as we transition into the Spring. Replace Your Car's Air Filter As pollen and other allergens fill the air, your car's air filter will be put under more stress than usual. When your cabin air filter isn't changed often enough, the allergens can clog or even damage the air filter. With this dust and debris building up in your air filter, that pesky pollen can start to circulate in your car, lowering the air quality and even making it harder to keep your engine cool. To keep clean air flowing through your car and engine, don't wait to replace your air filter. more Make Sure Your A/C Is Functioning Properly With Summer right around the corner, you don't want to wait on checking your A/C. A car's A/C is the most reliable way to regulate the temperature of the cabin. Whether you need hot air in the freezing Winter or cool air for the blazing Summers, your A/C will keep you at a healthy and comfortable temperature. You don't want to find yourself sweating on the way to your auto service appointment, so get your A/C checked now. Replace Your Windshield Wiper Blades Did you ever need to wipe ice off your windshield during the Winter? Or even just some snow? The cold months can be extremely harsh on your windshield wipers, wearing down the rubber of the blades, making them less effective in wiping water, snow, and other elements from your windshield. Since, we're heading into Spring, rain is going to be more common than ever. Don't let yourself end up with faulty or ineffective wiper blades, because driving in harsh weather conditions without a way to reliably maintain visibility is dangerous for both your passengers and other drivers alike. Check Your Tire Pressure Tire pressure tends to fluctuate heavily due to changing temperatures. This means your tire pressure can begin to drop too much as the Spring and Summer heat comes around. Low tire pressure can cause a variety of problems for your vehicle. Not only does low pressure increase the likely-hood of tire failure, but it also decreases your vehicle's fuel efficiency, handling, and even lessens the life span of your tires. If you're looking to maximize your control on the road, definitely consider getting your tires checked. There are plenty of other auto services your car can take advantage of to prepare for Spring. These are just some of the few we recommend. To learn more about important Spring auto services, or the services we can provide, visit Duncan Suzuki's site. We will give you an informed and transparent diagnosis of your car's current condition and help you get back on the road as soon as possible.

Necessary Used Car Maintenance in Pulaski, VA

Buying a used car in Pulaski, VA? Smart move! To get the most out of your investment, though, you need to take care of it. Regular used car maintenance can help your ride to run efficiently for as long as possible. Regular Oil Changes Oil changes are the best thing you can do for your car, hands down. Oil cushions the moving parts of your engine. This reduces friction and helps to keep the engine cool. Unfortunately, oil doesn't last forever. As you drive, it breaks down and collects dirt and debris. This cleaning is great for your engine, but the oil gets less effective. Not sure how often to change it? Your car needs fresh oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. more Tire Maintenance Regular tire maintenance includes checking your tire pressure, performing rotations, and keeping an eye on your tread depth. Making sure your tires are properly inflated and rotating them regularly helps prevent them from wearing out too soon. You should check out your tires at least once a month to verify that the pressure is correct and glance at the depth of your tread. Stick a penny in the tire tread with Lincoln upside-down. If you can see the top of his head, you need new tires. Brake Inspections Brakes are one of the most important safety features of any vehicle. Brake pads, rotors, and other components wear down with use and eventually need to be replaced. Listen for any unusual sounds like grinding or squeaking, and be mindful of changes in braking performance. Have your brakes inspected at least once a year, or sooner if you notice issues. Fluid Checks and Replacements Your oil isn't the only fluid that needs to be checked and replaced. Transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid all degrade over time and can cause serious issues if not replaced. Battery Care Car batteries typically last three to five years, so you might need a new one before you know it. Take a peek under the hood from time to time to look for problems like corrosion or a bloated battery case. When you bring your car in for service, we can test it to make sure that it holds a charge. Fresh Air Filters Replacing the engine and cabin air filters is an often-overlooked maintenance task, but it impacts both comfort and performance. A clean engine air filter ensures that your engine is getting all the air it needs to operate efficiently. The cabin air filter improves the quality of air inside your car. Want to keep your used car running well for years? Prioritize routine maintenance! By getting a handle on small issues before they become big problems, you can save money on repairs and keep your car dependable. Call Duncan Suzuki in Pulaski, VA, to schedule your next maintenance appointment today.

3 Services Offered by Duncan Suzuki in Pulaski, VA

Your car is a great piece of automotive engineering, and it needs regular services to enable it to work at its best. At Duncan Suzuki in Pulaski, VA, we have Expertly-trained technicians, OEM-approved parts, and state-of-the-art technology to keep your vehicle in perfect shape. We want to tell you about a few of the services we offer. Tire Maintenance Tires wear down naturally due to surface friction, but they suffer additional and avoidable damage due to incorrect balance, poor wheel alignment, or lack of rotation. As your dealer, we can correct any or all of these issues for you. Rotating our tires involves shifting each tire to a new position, which equalizes wear and increases tire life. more Wheel balance changes over time as you drive, and a wheel that isn't balanced at the center will wear out faster. We attach your wheels to our wheel balancing machine. This machine identifies any imbalance, and we'll add weights to the tire to correct this. Wheel alignment is corrected by connecting your wheels to our alignment machine, which carefully adjusts each wheel to its correct alignment. Properly aligned wheels cause less tire damage. Radiator Flush The radiator's job is to remove heat produced by the engine. Coolant moves through the engine at high speed, absorbing heat as it moves. The coolant's journey ends at the radiator, where it enters rows of horizontal tubes. Airflow flows through the grille and over the tubes to remove the heat. Coolant becomes slower as it ages and can turn corrosive, leading to engine damage. Our technicians will drain the old coolant, then add new coolant mixed with a conditioner. This mixture is circulated through the engine to remove any trace of the old coolant. Once the system has been flushed, we drain this mixture and refill your engine with new coolant. Oil Replacement Oil is pumped through your engine and lubricates all its moving parts. Lubrication is vital, as many engine components depend on friction to work effectively, and a lack of oil will cause excessive wear and tear on engine components. The swift-moving oil helps reduce the engine temperature, and its additives provide additional benefits like rust reduction and reduce the build-up of engine deposits. Like all other fluids, your oil needs regular replacement. Older oll becomes less effective, leading to increased wear and tear on your engine. We'll drain the old oil, then replace the oil filter to ensure oil can flow freely. We then refill your engine with regular or synthetic oil, depending on your vehicle model or personal preference. These are just a few ways we increase your car, truck, or SUV's lifespan and reduce your repair costs. We also offer a range of specials on our services. Contact us today at Duncan Suzuki in Pulaski, VA.