ASK THE EXPERT
Q: How long should a car battery last, and how do
I know when to replace it?
— Mary from Tucson
A great question! More than 20 percent of the calls
to AAA’s emergency roadside service are battery related,
and many of them may have been prevented if proper
battery care and maintenance was performed.
First, let’s answer how long a battery should last.
It depends on the climate you live in, the type of
battery you have, the condition of your vehicle, and
how much attention you pay to servicing and maintaining
your battery. The average life span of a car battery
in high temperature regions such as Phoenix and Tucson
is between 18 and 30 months. Those of you in the high
country should be averaging 60 to 72 months.
Now to the second part of your question. Batteries,
like any electrical component, can be very unpredictable.
My suggestion is to have your battery tested at least
every six months at any of our AAA approved auto repair
facilities, preferably in the spring and fall, making
certain you are heading into the hot and cold seasons
in good shape. Sometimes, batteries will give you a
warning prior to failure. When you start your vehicle
and notice that it does not turn over as quickly as
it normally does, I would have that battery checked.
Other items that should be checked regularly are the
battery connections to make certain they are secure,
and make sure the terminals are free from corrosion.
If your battery does fail, AAA offers members one of
the highest quality batteries in the industry. It is
designed for the Arizona climate with full compucast
grids (which can significantly extend battery life)
and exclusive de-mineralized acid that makes the battery
completely maintenance free. When using our mobile
battery service, members receive a free check of their
battery and charging system whenever and wherever you
are. If at that time a replacement battery is needed,
you get special member pricing, free installation and
a battery with a 72 month/36 month free replacement
warranty. John Walter is general manager of automotive
products for AAA Arizona, and has more than 15 years
of experience in the auto-repair industry.
Ask AAA
AAA Arizona offers both mobile and in-shop automotive
glass repair and replacement, servicing the metro-Phoenix
area.
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