Car Problems? Check Your Battery

Many vehicle's electrical problems often start with the death of a battery – the one fix a person forgets to address. People will end up spending tons of money trying to diagnose their vehicle's failure to run when in fact, maybe the last time they had their battery replaced was over five or six years prior. Yes, car batteries need replaced just as flashlight batteries and such. But unlike flashlight batteries, your vehicle will rarely show signs of the diminishing power, it will suddenly just fail you.

While car batteries are much better today than they were even a few years ago, most fail in the 5-7 year range, if not before. And cheaper batteries might not last even that long.

Is your battery running at full capacity? A new 12-volt car battery, fully charged, should be putting out about 13.5 Volts. With the car running, by the way, the voltage should be 14.0 to 14.5 Volts, which also confuses a lot of consumers. A battery won't charge unless the voltage applied to it is greater than its basic voltage (otherwise current won't flow). So to charge a battery that is nominally 13.5 volts, you need 14 to 14.5 volts to make things happen. If the car is less than 14.0 volts when running, you may have an alternator problem.

With the car off, your battery should be at 13.0 to 13.5 volts, once it is charged. Anything from 12.5 to 13.0 volts is suspect, and if you are having problems and the battery is of any age at all, you should replace it. Below 12.0 volts, your battery is likely shot. You can use a voltmeter to test your battery, many automotive places have one and will test your battery for free. If your battery is at 11.5 Volts it may not start the car. Below 10.5 Volts it is basically dead and can cause things to happen to your vehicle such as the car alarm going off, lights blinking, etc. Most consumers imagine that a 12 volt battery is half charged at 6 and fully charged at 12, but the fact is it is fully charged at 13.5 and half charged at 12.


Car batteries do not have a lot of depth of charge which means this depth becomes shallower over time. As a car battery ages, it may hold little more than a surface charge. There is enough charge to crank over the engine and start the car - once - before the alternator kicks in and recharges the battery, which in turn will now have just enough charge to re-start the car. Draining your battery becomes easy to do – whether it is a cold day and your engine has to work harder to turn over or if you leave your dome light on too long.

If your vehicle has an aftermarket stereo installed, these tend to draw more power from your battery, even when it is off. Navigation systems can also draw a lot of power. People with subwoofers often install a separate battery to power them. The standard car battery can easily be drained flat by large aftermarket subwoofer amplifiers and other audio, video, and navigation accessories.


Changing your own battery does require some knowledge in how to do it properly. If you are not familiar with what that is or how you could easily short circuit your battery or vehicle, you may want to allow a professional to do it for you. If your battery is over five or six years old, you may want to have it tested. After all, it would be cheaper to have it replaced than to pay for towing.

Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used car Austin and the surrounding area. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.

How to Find a Quality Mechanic

When your car fails you by breaking down or not starting, the last thing you need is a bad mechanic working on it. So how do you make sure you find someone who has the right experience and is trustworthy enough to take your car to? Here are a few things to look for.


1. Is the garage and surrounding area neat? Some clutter and parts lying around is not a reason to find a different mechanic. Has the place been cleaned recently? Take a look at the cars that are in for service. If you see cars that are in good shape, then their owners take care of them, and therefore would choose a reputable mechanic.

2. Whoever takes down your information and talks to you about what you want done should be courteous and helpful. If you have a question, ask. Don't feel dumb if you think it's a stupid question, they have heard everything at least once before, and they won't laugh at you.

3. Ask for a few references. Call those references and ask them the following: Are you happy with the shop's service? Do you think they do good work for the money? Are they helpful if problems arise? How long does it take to get a service appointment?

4. Ask about the shop's policies regarding payment, hourly rates, storage charges and guarantees. This information should be properly displayed.

5. Make sure that the shop regularly services your make of vehicle. If they specialize in American cars, your European sports car will be better off somewhere else.

6. Does the shop proudly display the mechanics training certificates (ASE), Better Business Bureau membership certificate and AAA certification?

7. Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area: civic and community service awards, membership in the Better Business Bureau, AAA-Approved Auto Repair status, customer service awards.

8. Look for evidence of qualified technicians, such as trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work, and ASE certifications — a national standard of technician competence.

9. Most importantly, keep records of all the service that is performed on your vehicle, and make sure that all services performed are itemized on those bills.

Once you find a mechanic, you may want to consider the following:

1. Repeat business will earn you perks, such as getting bumped to the front of the line when you need emergency service. If you find a good shop, reward them by referring them to your friends.
2. If you are unsatisfied with the service you receive, speak to the manager of the garage and try to come to a resolution. A reputable garage will try to fix the problem and keep you as a satisfied customer.

3. Keep good records; keep all paperwork. This is vital to assessing the car's value when trading it in or selling it privately.

4. Reward good service with repeat business. It is mutually beneficial to you and the shop owner to establish a relationship.

5. If the service was not all you expected, don't rush to another shop. Discuss the problem with the service manager or owner. Give the business a chance to resolve the problem. Reputable shops value customer feedback and will make a sincere effort to keep your business.

6. Treat your mechanic well. Send him something for the holidays. Some people get a box of doughnuts or cookies and leave them on the passenger seat of their cars for the mechanic and his crew.

About the Author: Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgeable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com>

Preparing for your Road Trip

It is that time of year for a road trip. Whether it is you and your friends or the whole family, there are some things to consider before driving off into the sunset. With a little time and pre-road trip preparation, you can save yourself some potential problems and big bucks.

To start, take your car in for some all-over maintenance. Things to have checked include:

1. Wiper Blades - Inspect the condition of the blade material (it should be soft and pliable) for cracks or separation from the blade retainer.

2. Lights - Check the turn signals, headlights and brake lights, making sure they operate properly. It is a good idea to have the headlights checked for proper alignment in order to have optimum lighting and to prevent the “blinding” of oncoming drivers.

3. Tires - Check tires for excessive or uneven wear and tire pressure. It’s important to check the tire pressure when the tires are cold. The recommended tire pressure provided by the vehicle and tire manufacturers are designed to compensate for the increase in tire pressure caused by the rise in temperature of the tire when it is rolling down the highway.

4. Fluid Levels - Lift the hood and check the engine oil, automatic transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, radiator coolant, and windshield washer fluid levels. Top off if necessary.

5. Belts & Hoses - Check hoses for proper fit, leaks, brittleness, loose clamps, and softness in the elbow areas. As for the belts, check for alignment, glazing, adjustment, and tearing and cracking. Replace if necessary.

6. Air Conditioning - Test the A/C system to see that it is working and cooling the vehicle down in a reasonable time. Also, inspect the refrigerant lines for evidence of leaks. Remember, on most late-model vehicles, the defroster system utilizes the air conditioning for more efficient defrosting and defogging.

7. Battery Connections - Check / clean battery posts and cable terminals for corrosive buildup. White fuzz that surrounds the cable terminal ends at the battery posts can easily identify a corrosive condition. Cleaning or removal of the white fuzz requires the removal of the cable terminals after washing them down with a baking soda and water solution. The best cleaning results can then be achieved by using a battery post and cable terminal-cleaning tool. Performing this small maintenance activity will ensure optimum performance from the vehicle’s electrical system.

8. Fluid Leaks - Examine the ground where you park your vehicle for leaks. Any fluid residue found should be examined for the type of fluid (gas, engine or transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, radiator coolant, windshield washer fluid), and the leak repaired immediately to avoid any problems.

9. Exhaust Leaks - Listen / look for leaks from the exhaust system, and if something seems marginal, have the system checked by a professional mechanic / muffler shop prior to leaving for your trip. The life you save may be your own, as the gases escaping from the system are very deadly.

10. Brakes - Test-drive the vehicle for brake response and feel. Listen for noises (high-pitched squeal, grinding or clunking). Look for fluid leaks from flexible brake hoses and steel brake lines. If you feel your mechanical expertise is limited in this area, I would recommend you have a professional look at your brakes to advise you on the condition of the brake friction material, drums, rotors, and the hydraulic system. It is important that the vehicle always be prepared to stop regardless of the driving conditions.

Once your car is in top shape, make sure you have a basic emergency kit on board. The kit’s contents could be dependent on where you are going. If you are heading off to the desert in the summer you will want extra water. Going north where there is snow, take blankets and snow chains. But when it comes to the basics, your emergency kit should include:

1. Assortment of Combination Wrenches, Screwdrivers, and Pliers
2. Flashlight / Spare Batteries for Flashlight
3. Roadside Flares / Battery Operated Roadside Marker Lights (If you don’t like playing with fire)
4. First Aid Kit
5. Battery Jumper Cables
6. Blanket, Food, and Something to Drink (In case you’re stuck for awhile)
7. Cell phone charger

Last, once everything is in order, the most important thing to prepare for on your road-trip is the right music. Maybe it won’t keep you safe, but it sure will make everything much more enjoyable.

Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgeable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area and is known as one of the bad credit car dealers Austin. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.

Car Care: What Not to Do

Any vehicle owner knows that failing to regularly change a car’s oil can destroy the engine. Even a novice will get the clue that something is wrong if the brakes are shaking or an engine warning light is on. And vehicle owner manuals guide us on what maintenance we should perform and when. But without being a car aficionado, it is more difficult to know what to avoid when it comes to daily use of a car. Most people have probably made simple, mindless mistakes in car care, without realizing the potential risk to their vehicles.

When parking on an incline, it is not only important to employ the parking brake, but also to administer the brakes in the proper sequence. First, you should come to a complete stop using the standard foot brake. Next, engage the parking brake, and shift into park if you have an automatic transmission. Only then should you release the foot brake. If you only use park or shift into park first, the weight of the vehicle will rest on the parking prawl, a pin that locks the transmission to keep your car parked. Without the parking brake engaged, all of the force trying to roll the car down the hill rests on this pin. Even if the mechanism does not fail, the unnecessary force that will be applied to shift back out of park can potentially damage the components of the mechanism.

With an automatic transmission, it is also important not to shift without coming to a complete stop first. Shifting from drive to reverse or reverse to drive without being completely stopped can cause serious damage to the transmission, a complex component of the car that is expensive and difficult to repair.

Another easily avoided way to damage a car is driving until the fuel tank is empty, or driving with a consistently low amount of fuel. Waiting for the fuel light to come on before refilling the tank is not a good practice for any car. Consistently driving a car with less than about a quarter of a tank can lead to eventual fuel filter and pump trouble that could have been prevented by simply refueling sooner.

Even if you are not a mechanical expert, becoming familiar with the parts under the hood of your car while it is in good shape can prevent you from getting stranded. If you take notice of the normal appearance and sound of belts and hoses, it is more likely that you will notice when something is awry. Being in tune with your car’s regular performance and avoiding the thoughtless actions pointed out above will help you escape needless mechanic visits accompanied by unwanted repair charges.

About the Author: Greg Chapman, of Greg Chapman Motors, is a leading provider of quality used trucks, used SUVs and used cars in Austin and the surrounding areas. For more information please visit Greg Chapman Motors.

Simple Vehicle Maintenance Guide

Regular preventative maintenance and upkeep can prolong a vehicle’s life, improve the resale value and keep routine problems from becoming significant ones. The owner’s manual for your vehicle includes a maintenance schedule to guide you on the recommended actions to take at specified mileage and mileage intervals. Any vehicle will eventually encounter mechanical issues, but you can prevent major problems and optimize your car’s performance by following the maintenance schedule and performing basic upkeep that is recommended for all vehicles.

There is no substitute for having your oil changed regularly. But it is also crucial to check the oil periodically between oil changes, particularly if your vehicle has high mileage. The level and condition of the oil will signify whether you should have it changed sooner than scheduled or have your engine serviced. If the oil level is in the low range, it is imperative that you have the oil changed right away, and it would be a good idea to have the engine checked for leaks. If the oil appears dark brown or black, as opposed to a reddish color, it is time for an oil change. Other signals that you should have your vehicle checked are oil leaks under the car, or a change in the oil pressure gauge.

Your vehicle’s cooling system regulates the engine’s operating temperature, and overheating can cause irreversible damage to an engine. Check the coolant level in your vehicle periodically, such as when you check the oil, and have any leaks repaired right away. It is also wise to ensure that the front of your radiator is not obstructed by debris, which is one cause of overheating. Be attentive to the temperature gauge in your vehicle, and stop right away if it ever rises uncharacteristically. Do not attempt to open the reservoir until the engine has cooled, and have your radiator checked before driving the vehicle any further.

If you have an automatic transmission, you should also check the level and color of the transmission fluid regularly. If the level is low, there is likely a leak that should be repaired. Again, keep an eye out for leaks under your car. You should have the transmission fluid changed on regular intervals as recommended by your vehicle’s manual, and if it appears dark or dirty (as opposed to a clear reddish or brownish tint). It is also important to consistently use the type of fluid that is specified in your vehicle owner’s manual.

Preventative maintenance is necessary to keep your car performing at its best and to prolong its life. Keeping a detailed record of your vehicle’s maintenance history is helpful for trading or selling the vehicle in the future. While this guide serves as an outline of helpful suggestions, it is recommended to follow your vehicle’s maintenance schedule from the manufacturer and have any problems checked by a professional before they have time to escalate.

About the Author: Greg Chapman, of Greg Chapman Motors, is a leading provider of quality used trucks, used SUVs and used cars in Austin TX and the surrounding areas. For more information please visit Greg Chapman Motors.