Why batteries struggle in Edmonds
Two things about life in Edmonds are tough on a car’s electrical system.
The first is short trips. Starting the engine takes a big gulp of power, and it takes a decent drive for the alternator to put that back. If most of your driving is a mile or two at a time, the battery spends its life a little short of full, and that shortens it.
The second is damp, salty air. It encourages corrosion on battery terminals, ground straps and connectors, and a corroded connection can act exactly like a failing part.
Signs to bring it in
- The engine turns over slowly, or you hear a click and nothing else
- You’ve needed a jump more than once
- The battery light comes on while driving
- Headlights dim at idle and brighten when you rev
- Something works some days and not others
Test first, then repair
Your vehicle’s electrical system combines charging, starting, ignition, lighting and the computers that run the engine. Diagnosing it takes state-of-the-art equipment and a lot of experience. We have both.
We test the battery, the starter and the alternator, and check for a drain that’s pulling power while the car sits. Then we fix what’s actually wrong: starters, alternators, batteries, wiring, fuses, lights, ignition switches and power accessories.
Cars have become far more computerized, and our staff has kept up. The details are on our main auto electrical repair page.