A Stitch in Time at Franklin Auto Service

Posted February 14, 2021 10:40 AM

You probably have heard that expression, "A stitch in time saves nine." In other words, if you fix an issue at its early stages, it will prevent a much more difficult problem later. That's certainly the case with your vehicle, and here's a true story to demonstrate it.

A driver noticed his vehicle was due for an oil change, so he took it in to his service facility early in the morning so he could wait while the work was performed. The technician routinely checks the battery on vehicles just before extreme weather is approaching (cold or hot), so with winter coming up, he hooked up the load tester (it measures voltage while a load is put on the battery). It showed the battery wasn't holding a charge well.

The technician checked the manufacturing date on the battery, too (most batteries have a date stamped in code somewhere on them). The date showed it was five years old. While batteries can last more than five years, many technicians say you should expect to get anywhere from three to six years out of them, depending on what they go through.

So, this battery was getting a little long in the tooth, and it wasn't holding a charge particularly well. But how much current was it being sent by the vehicle's alternator? If it wasn't getting enough, that might be a factor. A test of the charging system showed the alternator was putting out the correct amount of power. The technician recommended replacing the battery, and the driver agreed.

That was the stitch in time. Had the technician not checked the battery, that driver likely would have been stranded the next time he tried to start his vehicle on a very cold day. What originally was supposed to be just an oil change led to a technician's sharp diagnosis and a little preventative maintenance for one fortunate driver. Sometimes timing is everything.

Franklin Auto Service
32725 Franklin Rd
Franklin, MI 48025
248-626-2080
http://www.franklinautoservice.net



Search



Archive

April 2019 (17)
May 2019 (4)
June 2019 (5)
July 2019 (4)
August 2019 (4)
September 2019 (5)
October 2019 (4)
November 2019 (4)
December 2019 (5)
January 2020 (5)
February 2020 (4)
March 2020 (5)
April 2020 (4)
May 2020 (5)
June 2020 (4)
July 2020 (4)
August 2020 (5)
September 2020 (4)
October 2020 (4)
November 2020 (5)
December 2020 (4)
January 2021 (6)
February 2021 (4)
March 2021 (4)
April 2021 (4)
May 2021 (5)
June 2021 (4)
July 2021 (4)
August 2021 (5)
September 2021 (4)
October 2021 (5)
November 2021 (4)
December 2021 (4)
January 2022 (6)
February 2022 (4)
March 2022 (4)
April 2022 (4)
May 2022 (5)
June 2022 (4)
July 2022 (5)
August 2022 (4)
September 2022 (4)
October 2022 (5)
November 2022 (4)
December 2022 (4)
January 2023 (5)
February 2023 (4)
March 2023 (4)
April 2023 (5)
May 2023 (4)
June 2023 (4)
July 2023 (5)
August 2023 (4)
September 2023 (4)
October 2023 (5)
November 2023 (4)
December 2023 (5)
January 2024 (5)
February 2024 (4)
March 2024 (4)

Categories

Air Conditioning (5)Alignment (11)Alternator (4)Auto Safety (4)Automotive News (4)Battery (8)Brakes (10)Cabin Air Filter (6)Check Engine Light (3)Cooling System (5)Dashboard (1)Diagnostics (3)Differential Service (1)Drive Train (5)Emergency Items (1)Engine Air Filter (2)Exhaust (4)Fluids (7)Fuel Economy (6)Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down (1)Fuel System (22)Headlamps (4)Inspection (3)Keys to a long lasting vehicle (2)Maintenance (33)Monitoring System (2)Oil Change (4)Older Vehicles (4)Parts (4)PCV Valve (1)Safe Driving (1)Safety (2)Serpentine Belt (1)Service Intervals (6)Service Standards (5)Shocks & Struts (3)Steering (8)Suspension (1)Timing Belt (5)Tire Rotation and Balancing (1)Tires (3)Tires and Wheels (25)Transmission (6)Trip Inspection (2)Water Pump (1)What Customers Should Know (32)Wheel Bearings (1)Windshield Wipers (3)Winter Prep (1)

Partners

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence)
AutoWares
ASE Master Technician
BG Products
Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce
Car Care Aware

What our clients are saying about us

We have established longterm and stable partnerships with various clients thanks to our excellence in solving their automotive needs!

Home town auto shop. They move a little slower than the corporate people but they do better work for fair prices. quotes-image
, 11/12/2023
reviewicon
Did great work at a reasonable price. Very happy and would recommend.quotes-image
, 09/30/2023
reviewicon