Blog / Altoona Ford Service

Does Your Ford Need a New Car Battery?

Interior view of a 2024 Ford Escape. | Ford dealer in Altoona, PA | Courtesy Ford Lincoln

Replacing your car's battery before it dies saves you from the headache and hassle of being stranded by a vehicle that won't start. But how can you tell when it's time for a new car battery from your Ford dealership? There are several signs that your battery may be nearing the end of its life.

Your Car Doesn't Start As Easily as It Used To

Does it seem more difficult to start your vehicle? If it takes a couple of tries to get your engine to turn over, or if your engine shuts down soon after your start, your battery may be declining. The battery provides the power to start your engine, and starting can become difficult if the battery is holding less of a charge.

If you have to frequently resort to jump-starting to get the vehicle going, that's another sure sign that your battery needs to be checked out and possibly replaced.

Your Battery Looks and Smells Bad

It's a good idea to pop the hood of your vehicle and check your battery out every once in a while. If your battery case appears swollen or bulging, it may be about to rupture.

And if your battery is emitting the unpleasant smell of rotten eggs, your battery may be emitting sulfuric acid and need replacement. Sulfuric acid is a fire hazard, and it can cause other types of damage to your car, so you'll want to act quickly to replace the battery.

Your Dashboard Light Is On

Sometimes it's easy to miss the cues that your battery is starting to decline. Life has a way of getting busy, and maybe you hadn't noticed that your car was slowly becoming more difficult to start. Fortunately, most vehicles today have a dashboard warning light that comes on if there's an emerging battery or starting issue.

That warning light doesn't always mean that you need a new battery, but it does mean that you need to get your battery checked out. The next time that light comes on, schedule an appointment with our service department.

Your Headlights and Other Electrical Functions Seem Weaker

In addition to providing the power to start your engine, your battery also powers a host of other electrical functions on your vehicle, including the headlights, cabin lights, windshield wipers, and the stereo system. If your lights don't seem as bright, or if those other electrical functions seem sluggish, you may need to have your battery checked out.

We can quickly and easily test your battery and determine if it's time for a new one. When you're ready to schedule your next service appointment, give us a call at Courtesy Ford Lincoln.

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3 Indicators Your Ford Requires Professional Service

There are many different signs that your vehicle needs maintenance or a repair. As your Ford dealership, we want to tell you some of the signs you need to visit us for a professional service. Strange Smells Musty, earthy smells in the cabin, the odor of burning plastic or rubber, or the smell of hot metal are all signs something is wrong. As time passes, components gradually wear out, and this can lead to trouble if they're not replaced. Regular servicing prevents all these issues, as our technicians can identify potential problems and fix them. Burning plastic usually means damaged wiring. Electricity will continue to flow into a wire up to the break, causing it to overheat and burn the protective insulation. A burning rubber smell is caused by old transmission fluid overheating in the hot transmission. An earthy, musty smell means bacteria have infested the AC ducts and need to be removed. Our technicians can quickly fix these and any of these issues. more Illuminated Warning Lights Your Ford contains a vast network of sensors that receive instructions from and relay information to your car's computer so it can make decisions. The sensors also monitor the component they're connected to and warn the computer if the component is malfunctioning. If the computer can't correct the issue, it logs it with an error code and illuminates the warning light most directly related to the problem. If a warning light comes on, contact our service department and we'll investigate. Sensors can detect minute changes in their connected component, so the quicker we fix the issue, the greater the chance we can prevent a serious problem. Colored Exhaust Smoke Normal exhaust smoke is often difficult to see. If the exhaust suddenly vents blue, black, or thick white smoke, it's time to visit our service department ASAP. Blue smoke means an oil leak into the cylinders, which can be caused by damaged cylinder seals or a worn gasket. Thick, white exhaust smoke is caused by an engine coolant leak due to a crack in the head gasket, a protective seal that prevents oil and coolant from mixing in the engine. Black exhaust smoke means the catalytic converter isn't correctly converting the dangerous chemicals produced by combustion. If your Ford isn't working as well as it should, we can fix it. Contact us today at Courtesy Ford in Altoona, PA.

A parked, black 2024 Ford Bronco | Ford Bronco in Altoona, PA | Courtesy Ford Lincoln

Time for New Tires? Visit Your Ford Dealership

When your vehicle needs new tires, all you have to do is stop at the Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center at your Ford dealership for a range of major brand tires sold at affordable prices and expert installation services by Ford-trained and certified technicians, making finding and mounting the right tires for your vehicle cost-effective and hassle-free. Ford Tire Services When you're looking for a new set of rubber, our team of certified Ford experts is always here and ready to help you. We offer a range of high-quality brand tires at low prices, and our Ford-trained and certified Ford technicians will handle the tire installation expertly. Plus, when you buy tires from us, you can benefit from our amazing money-saving deals and discounts on services and tires. Choose Between 16 Major Tire Brands We stock 16 high-quality brand tires from major manufacturers, offered with our Low Price Tire Guarantee. Choose between quality brands such as Firestone, Bridgestone, Dunlop, Goodyear, Pirelli, Continental, BF Goodrich, Falken Tires, Hankook, Kelly Tires, General Tire, Michelin, Nitto, Toyo Tires, Yokohama, and Uniroyal. Our certified Ford experts will help you find the right tires based on your vehicle's requirements. Moreover, they also provide easy maintenance tips to ensure you get the best out of your new set of tires and maximize their lifespan, saving you heaps of money in the long run. Stop at Our Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center Our Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center makes your entire tire purchasing and installing experience as convenient as possible. You don't need to make an appointment beforehand; just swing by our Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center when you have the time, and our team of certified Ford experts will help you find the correct set of tires for your vehicle and mount them expertly. Earn Valuable FordPass Rewards Bonus Points Become a FordPass member, and when you purchase tires from us, earn bonus points on your FordPass Rewards Visa Card. If you choose four tires from BFGoodrich, Dunlop, Goodyear, Michelin, or Yokohama, you will get a $100 rebate by mail. Take Advantage of Our Great Deals and Discounts We offer excellent deals and discounts on services, parts, and major tire brands to help our customers save money. You can check our website to view our money-saving offers or speak to one of our friendly and certified Ford experts to find out more about our tire specials. When your vehicle needs a new set of tires, our Ford Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center has got you covered. We offer a variety of 16 major tire brands with our Low Price Tire Guarantee and professional installations by Ford-trained and certified technicians. Visit Courtesy Ford Lincoln today, and we will expertly handle all your tire needs.

Interior view of a 2024 Ford Bronco Sport | Battery service in Altoona, PA | Courtesy Ford Lincoln

Does Your Ford Need a New Car Battery?

Replacing your car's battery before it dies saves you from the headache and hassle of being stranded by a vehicle that won't start. But how can you tell when it's time for a new car battery from your Ford dealership? There are several signs that your battery may be nearing the end of its life. Your Car Doesn't Start As Easily as It Used To Does it seem more difficult to start your vehicle? If it takes a couple of tries to get your engine to turn over, or if your engine shuts down soon after your start, your battery may be declining. The battery provides the power to start your engine, and starting can become difficult if the battery is holding less of a charge. If you have to frequently resort to jump-starting to get the vehicle going, that's another sure sign that your battery needs to be checked out and possibly replaced. Your Battery Looks and Smells Bad It's a good idea to pop the hood of your vehicle and check your battery out every once in a while. If your battery case appears swollen or bulging, it may be about to rupture. And if your battery is emitting the unpleasant smell of rotten eggs, your battery may be emitting sulfuric acid and need replacement. Sulfuric acid is a fire hazard, and it can cause other types of damage to your car, so you'll want to act quickly to replace the battery. Your Dashboard Light Is On Sometimes it's easy to miss the cues that your battery is starting to decline. Life has a way of getting busy, and maybe you hadn't noticed that your car was slowly becoming more difficult to start. Fortunately, most vehicles today have a dashboard warning light that comes on if there's an emerging battery or starting issue. That warning light doesn't always mean that you need a new battery, but it does mean that you need to get your battery checked out. The next time that light comes on, schedule an appointment with our service department. Your Headlights and Other Electrical Functions Seem Weaker In addition to providing the power to start your engine, your battery also powers a host of other electrical functions on your vehicle, including the headlights, cabin lights, windshield wipers, and the stereo system. If your lights don't seem as bright, or if those other electrical functions seem sluggish, you may need to have your battery checked out. We can quickly and easily test your battery and determine if it's time for a new one. When you're ready to schedule your next service appointment, give us a call at Courtesy Ford Lincoln.