Posted on 10/27/2014
Question from Marty C. (Portland): My battery keeps going dead. I had it tested and it is fine - what could be the problem? Portland Automotive’s Answer: Well, your trouble could be caused by several things. Let's start with a likely suspect: your alternator. The alternator is like a little electrical generator. It is spun by the serpentine belt on your engine and makes electricity. This electricity is used to power the critical electrical systems required to run your truck. It also powers all of your electronic accessories like your stereo, navigation, heated seats, and air fans, as well as charging all the electronics you have plugged in. After the alternator has completed all that, any electricity that's left over is used to charge your battery. You can see where we're going: if the battery isn't getting enough electricity to stay charged the problem may have something to do with the alternator. Now it could be that the alternator is bad – they do wear out over ti ... read more