Without a working battery, your car will refuse to start. Along with causing starting issues, low battery power can lead to troubles in the many electrical systems of your vehicle. An auto shop that offers Mercedes service in Sacramento can get to the bottom of your battery life problems. After you have received battery repair services from your local auto shop, you will want to be on the lookout for signs that your battery is being drained prematurely. Let’s review three of the most common causes of battery drain in today’s vehicles.

Illuminated Lights

Most drivers accidentally leave the lights on in their cars at one point or another. Even if your car is equipped with a system that turns off your headlights automatically, your interior lights or trunk lights can also be left on overnight. By leaving your lights on for several hours, you may wind up with a completely drained battery by the time you go to start up your car. To prevent your battery from dying, always remember to shut off all of your car’s lights before you head into your house for the night.

Electrical Problems

Certain electrical components, such as your radio and alarm systems, need to be supplied with a small amount of electricity at all times. However, if any of these systems are experiencing electrical problems, they may start to drain your battery excessively. A certified mechanic can troubleshoot your vehicle’s electrical systems and determine whether they are creating a parasitic drain on your battery.

Alternator Issues

In order for your battery to recharge with power, it must be supplied with fresh charge from your car’s alternator. If your alternator is experiencing troubles, however, the diode may not be able to deliver enough current to recharge your battery. When you notice the signs and symptoms of alternator issues, such as flickering headlights, do not hesitate to schedule a diagnostic appointment with your mechanic. By repairing your alternator, you will be able to safeguard your battery against excessive drain.

You don’t need to know much about your car to know that engine failure is a big deal . In some cases, engine repair in Sacramento may not even be enough to bring your engine back to life. This is why you should make every effort to keep your engine in shape, which means understanding why failures might happen. People typically seek engine repair because they didn’t heed their vehicles warnings, change the oil on a regular basis, or notice issues like leaks. Keep reading to take a closer look at some common causes of engine failure.

Ignoring the Warnings

Every car, truck, and SUV comes with warning indicators that can alert you to a problem with your vehicle. However, it’s up to you to pay attention to these warning indicators and talk to your auto mechanic to find out what exactly is wrong. In many cases, a lit up engine oil light is trying to let you know about damage to your engine. The longer you wait before talking to your engine repair professional, the more damage can be done to your engine. Whenever you notice that a warning light is illuminated, you should make it a point to bring your car in for a diagnosis.

Forgetting to Change the Oil

If you don’t stay on top of your regular oil changes, you can expect to seek engine repair relatively frequently. As long as you stick to your regular oil change schedule, you should be able to keep your engine in shape. Although synthetic oil tends to be a bit more expensive, it lasts longer and can be a saving grace for people who often forget to change their oil. If you regularly drive with bad oil, you should expect to talk to your engine repair professional sooner rather than later.

Failing to Notice Leaks

Dirty oil can cause problems for your engine, but a lack of oil can be just as big of an issue. If your car starts springing engine oil, the entire engine will lack the proper lubrication, so see your engine repair specialist right away.

We get a lot of calls from clients asking if we can “clear codes”, “perform software updates”, “resetting service indicators”, “re-adapt”, or “program components”. They had another shop install parts but they didn’t have the right tools or knowledge to complete the work . So I ask you,“Does it sound like that shop completed the work?“

That is why it is important to check on who is working on your vehicle, verifying they have the equipment and capabilities to complete the work. Anyone can replace parts but the proper tools and knowledge is needed to complete the work. They may be able to give you a very low quote for replacing parts, but they are only doing half the job. You can go to a restaurant and order a meal but what would you say if they brought you a plate of raw food and told you they didn’t have the tools to cook it? That would be unacceptable. Looking at it that way, do you think it would be acceptable to leave service indicators lit, check engine lights on, or your vehicle not running properly?

At Frank’s Automotive , when we quote a price, that quote is for installing components and performing the necessary actions to Complete The Job . Also, a very important part of completing the work is standing behind the work we do. That is why we give you a 2-year unlimited mileage warranty. We want you to know that we are here to take care of you.

So next time you call for a quote ask not only for a price but verify that they can…

Complete the Work!

Check engine light on? This is one of the biggest automotive headaches drivers deal with, not necessarily because a check engine light means anything serious but because of the number of different possibilities that could be causing the light to come on. That’s why your best bet is to visit an auto repair shop in Sacramento that specializes in check engine light diagnostics . A mechanic will use advanced diagnostic equipment to pinpoint exactly what’s causing your check engine light to come so you can get back on the road as quickly as possible. In the meantime, here’s a look at some possible causes of a check engine light.

Faulty Oxygen Sensor

The oxygen sensor measures the amount of unburned oxygen in the vehicle’s exhaust system. A faulty oxygen sensor can cause the engine to burn more fuel than needed, resulting in up to 40% lower fuel economy. Failure to replace a faulty oxygen sensor over time can also cause damage to the catalytic converter.

Damaged Catalytic Converter

The catalytic converter converts carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. Typically, the catalytic converter will become damaged due to neglected maintenance or a problem with one of the sensors (mass airflow sensor, oxygen sensor, etc.). Your vehicle will not pass emissions testing with a faulty catalytic converter, and you can experience reduced performance in addition to poor fuel economy.

Loose or Missing Gas Cap

That’s right, one of the most common causes of the check engine light is simply a loose or missing gas cap. If the check engine light is on, make sure the gas cap is securely fastened and doesn’t appear to be cracked, chipped, or visible damaged in any way. If the gas cap looks good, bring your vehicle to an auto repair shop in Sacramento and let a mechanic perform a check engine light diagnostic to figure out exactly what’s going on with your car.