Make Sure Your Car Battery is Ready or Winter Weather

A Simple car battery checkup can reduce chance of being stranded

When winter is on the way, it means more than just cold weather for your car battery.

A dead car battery in extreme cold can strand motorists and in some cases cause life-threatening situations. The best defense -- and safety measure -- is checking the car battery and keeping it sufficiently charged during winter, according to the experts at Exide Technologies, a global leader in lead acid batteries for automotive and marine applications, battery-powered vehicles, and computer & telecommunications networks.

If the car is difficult to start, get a load check on the battery, and if the power is marginal, it's probably time to get a new battery. This type of test can be performed quickly by your technician.

When buying a battery, the principal consideration should be power. Automotive batteries are ranked by two factors, starting power, called "cold cranking amps" (CCAs), which indicate the power available to start the engine, and reserve capacity (RC), the number of minutes the battery will operate essential accessories if the alternator fails.

The more electrical devices in the car, such as electronic fuel injection systems, electric windows, sun roofs and audio systems, the more power the battery should have. If the car will be exposed to extreme weather, either heat or cold, the best guarantee against failure is a battery with a high level of cold cranking amps, at least 550, depending on the type of engine in your vehicle.

Several tips for good auto and car battery maintenance to prepare for cold weather:

• Keep the car engine in good condition. Tune up and change the oil regularly. In cold weather, use multi-viscosity winter-grade oil.
• Watch for terminal corrosion on the battery and make sure the battery cables are tight.
• Ideally, park the car in a garage at night, providing some insulation against low temperatures, ice and snow.

Dont get stuck out in the cold this winter! Contact Fifth Gear Automotive, and get your car battery ready for the colder months ahead. Car Battery Source Article

Tips to Avoid Costly Auto AC Repair

During the summer, especially in Texas, the auto air conditioner goes from a luxury to a necessity. It would be almost impossible to function in our cars without the air conditioning, especially because the temperatures reach the mid 90 s and 100 s. Therefore, it is extremely important for car owners to make sure their Air Conditioning system is running properly.

There are many auto ac repair shops in the area that do these things, however you want to make sure you go to an auto ac repair shop that specializes in fixing Air Conditioners.

Many people don t want to waste their time or money going to a repair shop a couple times a year; however this small check up can pay dividends in the future. You don t want to be the person who gets stuck with an AC system that completely doesn't work. If you think it is a hassle going to an auto ac repair shop, imagine how annoying it would be to completely have to change your AC system!

There are a few tips one should follow in order to make sure their AC system is working properly. When parking your car, make sure you park in a shaded place so your car is not at an extremely high temperature when you return. If your car is really hot, this will take a lot more energy to cool the car

This will also significantly reduce the miles per gallon your car can handle, because it takes a lot of energy to work the AC. Also, it is important to make sure that your car is clean and dust free, especially near the cabin. This can result in mold and spores, which can damage the AC system.

When washing your car, you can open up the hood and spray water on the AC condenser, which will help spread the dust and dirt. This way, the dust and dirt won't be concentrated in one region.

It is also important not to put the AC level on max when driving fast, because you will not only waste fuel, but not receive adequate amounts of air.

Lastly, you should do routine maintenance a couple times a year to replace some of your car parts that are not working properly. This may be a little costly, but it is worth it when looking at the bigger picture.

There are also a few obvious signs one should make note of that can indicate the AC is not working properly. If your AC is on and nothing blows out, there is definitely a huge problem. You should fix this as soon as possible, because your AC system is also connected to your defroster, which you will use in the wintertime. There may be a problem if the AC blows colder air than expected, because the compressor may be failing.

Also, if your AC does not get as cool as it should, or blows warm air when it should be blowing cool air, you may have a problem with the leaking coolant. There may also be a problem if the AC blows colder air than expected, because the compressor may be failing.

If you also notice that your car is leaking, you may have a problem with the AC. Most cars have UV dye in their system that is neon yellowish green, which can be easily spotted. Some cars also have dye that is clear, which is much harder to notice.

Your car may not be that important to you, but don't let the problems your car may have get worse. It is always important to take care of our belongings, or else we will face other repercussions in the future. When it comes to repairing a car, it is best to put it in the hands of professionals.

So if you’re looking for auto ac repair be sure to come to Fifth Gear Automotive.