Back to all

Charge It in Troy for Extended Battery Life

November 9, 2020

Here's an interesting statistic for our in Troy, Michigan, drivers: Only 30 percent of car batteries make it to 48 months. And the life expectancy varies by where you live. It ranges from 51 months in extremely cold areas to just 30 months in extremely hot climates.

Why is that? It turns out that it's our modern cars with all their electric accessories that are to blame. Things like, GPS, DVDs and entertainment computers are keeping vehicle batteries from maintaining a full charge. The longer a battery goes with a low charge, the sooner it'll die.

It's clear that you Troy drivers need to recharge your batteries. This is the job of the alternator. The problem comes when the car's demand for electricity is high and we are driving in stop and go conditions or short trips around Troy. The alternator just can't keep up.

The result is shortened battery life. So what can we do to improve our battery's health?

We need to keep the battery as close to a full charge as possible. That can be hard because sitting for just 24 hours in hot weather between charges can be too long. When the weather's cold in Troy, sitting for several days will cause discharge.

So some highway driving around Michigan will help keep a full charge if the battery has not been deeply depleted. Car batteries are not designed to be run down really low, or deep cycled, as it's called. So using your headlights or other power accessories when the car is off can deeply deplete your battery. Using the alternator to recharge from a deeply depleted state is also very dangerous to your battery because it charges too fast. In fact, on average, your battery would only last for ten recharges like that.

If you do find yourself with a dead battery or very low battery, use a good quality battery charger to slowly bring the battery up to full charge. Follow the instructions on the charger or talk to your friendly and knowledgeable service advisor at Auto Lab Troy .

Auto Lab Troy
2790 West Maple Rd.
Troy, Michigan 48084
(248) 643-7690



Need Service?

Request a Quote

More articles from Auto Lab Troy

Stopping Power Starts with Your Brake Pads

June 21, 2026

You may not think too often about your brakes, but one part of them plays a big role in your vehicles safety and performance. That part? The brake pad. Every time you press your brake pedal, those pads create friction against the rotors, converting your vehicles motion into heat and bringing y... More

Keep Cool: Why Radiator Hoses Matter

June 14, 2026

If theres one thing you want to make sure is going on under your vehicles hood, its that your engine doesnt get too hot. Heat is an engines worst enemy, and it can result in very expensive repairs, even leave you stranded in a tough spot. One vital part of your vehicle is the radiator hose, whic... More

The Untold Truth About Blinker Fluid: Why Your Car Desperately Needs It

May 10, 2026

If youve been ignoring your dashboard, your mechanic, and that one guy at the gas station who muttered bro your blinkers sound dry, then buckle up because today we dive into the critical world of blinker fluid maintenance. What Is Blinker Fluid? Blinker fluid is a high-viscosity, luminescent com... More