Robinwood Automotive is excited to present helpful car care articles. Check back for more!.
Have a question you'd like answered in these tips? Contact us!.
My battery is dead!
We have ALL experienced a dead battery, whether in the cold weather or not. Cold weather is the time most car batteries fail, but battery failure is not exclusive to the cold!
A battery service and test is the best insurance you can buy to keep you form being stranded next winter!
THE PROBLEMExtreme temperatures stress your car -- especially the starting system. In the winter, when you have a cold engine, cold oil and a cold battery...well, it's a bad combination.
Weak batteries are caused by- Corroded battery cables
- Lose alternator belt
- Leaving the lights on
- Age (average battery life is 4-5 years)
THE SOLUTIONTest and inspect the battery every fall
- Clean battery terminals and cable ends
- Clean the battery case
- Watch the acid though - it can burn your hands, and ruin your car paint
If you get stuck with a dead battery... To jump start, connect red to red/black to black OR + to + and - to -. BE CAREFUL! Connecting it wrong can give you a painful and unwanted shock!
Be careful if you decide to change your own battery -- some cars will lose the computer programming -- check with a good tech first. If you're uncertain about any part of your starting or charging system, the best insurance is to get it tested by a good technician.
Under the Hood With Robinwood
Here are some tips from owner Bob McGartlandGet More Miles for your Dollars
Get more miles for your dollar! Check out some of the helpful videos below on how to properly maintain and care for your car.
We service all makes and models, both foreign and domestic.
To see a complete list of services that we offer, visit our Services page.