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A Stitch in Time at AutoChoice Service Center Inc.

Posted November 25, 2018 4:07 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.

AutoChoice Service Center Inc.
2009 S. Yost Ave.
Bloomington, Indiana 47403
812-339-9898



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Reviews

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These guys rock! Thought my front brakes were going, turns out the rear brakes only needed cleaning. Saved me almost $400 & there's no more squeaking!

, 08/15/2024

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Had an alternator replaced. They squeezed me in and prices were very reasonable and they had a quick turnaround. Great shop and I reccomened them.

, 07/02/2024

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Autochoice is the best and do they ever go the extra distance! Today they carefully extracted a 4’ rat snake from inside my dash. Then they extracted a huge mouse nest the snake was feeding from, then they replaced the washer hose that the mice had chewed, leaving my washer jets nonfunctioning. All with lots of good humor and a reasonable cost.

, 05/22/2024

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