Car will not start? The question is always the same: is it the battery or the alternator? Tell them apart in five minutes, and know what each repair costs.
Battery symptoms
A dead battery usually warns you first: slow cranking, dim headlights, or a car that only starts after a jump. Batteries last three to five years in Phoenix – the heat shortens their life.
Alternator symptoms
The alternator charges the battery while you drive. When it fails, the car dies while you are driving, the battery light comes on, or the headlights flicker and dim at idle.
The quick test
Jump the car. If it stays running, the alternator is working and the battery was the problem. If it dies again within minutes, the alternator is not charging.
What each costs
A battery replacement is usually under $250 installed. An alternator runs $350 to $700 depending on the car. We test both before selling you either, so you pay for the part that is actually bad.
Text (602) 806-9444 and we will test your battery and charging system at your driveway in Phoenix.