Out of Juice?

Most motorists don’t know their battery needs to be replaced until it’s too late—when the battery fails and they end up stuck on the side of the road. Of course, members know that AAA is there to offer a jump-start or a tow. But is there a way to know that a battery might be at the end of its useful life? Most certainly, says AAA Emergency Road Service Manager William Jimerson.

“Most drivers don’t pay attention to the fact that the average lifespan of a car battery is about four years,” said Jimerson. “Conditions such as extreme heat or cold can stress a battery near the end of its life cycle, and that can be enough to end the battery’s life.”

To avoid getting caught on the side of the road, keep track of when you bought your battery. If you are past the four-year mark, and you don’t want to break down somewhere with a dead battery, consider replacing it.

Regardless of whether you are ahead of the game, replacing that old battery before it dies, or stopped on the side of the road with a failed battery, keep AAA in mind. AAA can always provide a jump-start or tow, but did you know AAA can also replace that battery, right on the spot?

It’s all part of AAA’s “On-the-Go” solutions, geared toward getting members back on the road, very possibly preventing a trip to a garage. Road service technicians can perform a quick test to check your old battery’s life. If it needs replacing, they will not only deliver the battery to you, but will install it as well at the location—all for one flat fee. AAA will even properly recycle your old battery at no extra cost.

Backed by more than 100 years of service, the AAA name means quality. Now, AAA is putting its backing into a new line of AAA-branded batteries.

Produced by Exide, which also makes batteries for manufacturers such as Ford Motor Company and Toyota, the AAA battery comes with a three-year nationwide free replacement warranty. The batteries carried by On-the-Go service technicians also include a 90-day freshness guarantee, ensuring that your new battery has not lost its juice while sitting in a storeroom somewhere.

The new AAA-branded batteries are available from the mobile AAA Battery Service trucks in major metropolitan areas and at selected AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities. For more information, call 1-800-AAA-HELP (222-4357) or visit AAA.com.

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