Page 17 - AAA Northampton County - AAA Now! Winter 2013

Consulting our magic snow globe, we can
confidently make this seasonal prediction:
thousands of drivers will find themselves stranded
in the dead of winter thanks to a dead battery.
Understanding what keeps your battery cranking
can help you avoid being left out in the cold.
As air cools, the oil in your car thickens. Parts
move slower and it requires more energy for the
battery to turn over and start the engine. A battery
loses a third of its power in freezing weather. If the
temperature drops to zero or below, your battery
has only half its power.
To keep your battery operating reliably in any
season, have a trained technician clean battery
cables and check that the charging system is
charging at the correct rate. The AAA network of
Approved Auto Repair facilities is an additional
source for requesting a diagnosis of your vehicle’s
charging system.
One way to protect your battery from the cold
is to use a block heater. Pre-warming your engine
reduces winter wear and tear on your battery and
starter, and also reduces emissions and increases
fuel economy.
What do you do if your battery has been exposed
to very cold weather? A fully charged battery will
not freeze unless the temperature drops very low. If
it does freeze, it destroys the lead coating and the
battery cannot charge. If the sides of your battery
seem to bow out, this is a sign the battery is frozen.
Never try to boost a frozen battery because it may
explode.
Maybe you are a snowbird who winters in the
sun and leaves the car behind. If your battery is
allowed to discharge completely a few times, you
will end up replacing your battery because the lead
coating on the battery’s internal plates will fail –
and so will the battery. Use a AAA Battery Tender®
charger to keep the battery charged during periods
you are not driving your vehicle.
No matter what precautions you take, your
battery will probably be reliable just 3 to 5 years.
An aging battery increases the odds that you could
spend some unscheduled time in your driveway or
parking lot. Here’s some good news about batteries
to make your season a little brighter. If you do
have battery problems, AAA can help. AAA Battery
Service offers free diagnostics – and technicians
come to you. They can test your charging system
and, at your request, install a quality AAA battery
right on the spot.
Your new AAA battery comes with a member
discount and a 72-month limited warranty and free
replacements for 36 months, nationwide.
Every battery we replace is recycled, so if
your New Year’s resolution includes a little more
environmental responsibility, we’ve got you
covered there, too. So far, AAA Battery Service
and our collection program, AAA Great Battery
Roundup®, have kept more than 2 million batteries
from contaminating landfills.
17 Winter 2013 3914 Hecktown Rd., Easton, PA • (610) 258-2371 •www.aaanc.com
Auto
Services AAANow! TM
WINTER BATTERY WORRIES?
JUST CHILL.
AAA Northampton County 12L005
Consulting our magic snow globe, we can confidently make
this seasonal prediction: thousands of drivers will find
themselves stranded in the dead of winter thanks to a dead
battery. Understanding what keeps your battery cranking can
help you av id being l ft out in the cold.
As air co ls, the oil in your car thickens. Parts move slo er
and it requires more energy for the battery o turn over
and star the engine. A batte y loses a third of its power in
freezing weathe . If the t mperature dr ps to z o or below,
your battery has only half its power.
To keep your b tery operati g reliably in ny season, have
a trained techni ian clean battery cables and check that the
charging system is charging at the correct rate. The AAA
network of pproved Auto Repair facilities is an additional
source for requesting a diagnosis of your vehicle’s charging
system.
One way to protect your battery from the cold is to use a block
heater. Pre-warming your engine reduces winter wear and
tear on your battery and starter, and also reduces emissions
and increases fuel economy.
What do you do if your battery has been exposed to very
cold weather? A fully charged battery will not freeze unless
the temperature drops very low. If it does freeze, it destroys
the lead coating and the battery cannot charge. If the sides
of your battery seem to bow out, this is a sign the battery is
frozen. Never try to boost a frozen battery because it may
explode.
Maybe you are a snowbird who winters in the sun and
leaves the car behind. If your battery is allowed to discharge
completely a few times, you will end up replacing your battery
because the lead coating on the battery’s internal plates will
f il – -- and so will the battery. Use a AAA Battery Tender®
charger to keep th battery charged d ring periods you are
not driving your vehicle.
No mat er what precautions you take, your battery will
probably be r liable just 3 to 5 years. An aging battery
increases the odds that you could spend some unscheduled
time in your driveway or parking lot. Here’s some good news
about batteries to make your season a little brighter. If you
do have battery problems, AAA can help. AAA Battery Service
offers free diagnostics – and technicians come to you. They
can test your charging system and, at your request, install a
quality AAA battery right on the spot.
Your new AAA battery comes with a member discount and
a 72-month limited warranty and free replacements for 36
months, nationwide.
Every battery we replace is recycled, so if your New Year’s
resolution includes a little more environmental responsibility,
we’ve got you covered there, too. So far, AAA Battery Service
and our collection program, AAA Great Battery Roundup®,
have k pt more than 2 milli n batteries from contaminating
landfills.
$5 off
To show our appreciation, you can redeem this coupon and receive $5 off a AAA Battery.
That’s right! AAA now offers a Battery Service Program which features the following benefits:
• Free, expert battery testing
• Quick battery installation, at your request
• A high-quality AAA battery at a members-only discount
• An unmatched 72-month limited warranty (including 36 months free nationwide replacement)
• Free recycling of your old battery
for choosing AAA Thank you
Northampton County
WIN R BATTERY
WORRIES? JUST CHILL.
Valid only for AAA Northampton County members. Offer expires 2/28/2013 •
To redeem this coupon, please call 610-258-2808.
Dear Vicki,
I wanted to share with you a good experience I had
recently as a AAA member. I drive a good amount with
my job and have been a AAA member since 2002.
OnTuesday, July 3, I was driving home from a
business trip in Baltimore, MDwhen I stopped for gas.
Afte I filled the tank, I turned the ignition and the
car was dead. I immediately called AAA and told the
dispatch where I was and the problem I was having.
I was t ld that someone was on the way and to allow
approximately one hour for them to arrive. I was
pleasantly surprised when a tow truck driven by Kevin
showed up ess than 30 minutes later. Kevin jumpedmy
battery (g ttingmy car started), assessed the situation
and determined I needed a battery replacement. He
offered to get me a battery and put it in“on the spot”
or suggested I would be ok to drive it home (about 50
miles) but indicated once I shut the car off, it would
need to be jump started again. I opted to drive the car
home and get the battery replaced uponmy return.
I went frombeing stranded 50 miles fromhome and not
knowing what was wrong withmy car to getting the car
started and feeling confident that a new battery would
solve my problem. This is the level of service I expect as
a AAAmember and you delivered.
However, the experience with AAA was not over.
I thanked Kevin and was on my way home within one
hour and fifteen minutes of learning of my battery
issue (the night before the Fourth of July holiday). I
was about 15 miles down the highway when my cell
phone started ringing. I did not recognize the number
and when I answered it was Kevin following up with
me to make sure I was ok. He said he wanted to make
sure the car was running ok indicating he would come
after me to help if need be. In my opinion, Kevin went
well above and beyond providing the service that is
expected frommy AAA membership.
The fact that he thought enough to
follow up with me to make sure I was
ok before I got too far down the road
really impressed me and motivated me
to tell you about this experience.
In my ten years as a AAA member,
I have only had to use your roadside
service on two occasions, but both
were pleasant experiences and well
worth the investment to be a member.
I want to thank you and Kevin for
providing a level of service that truly
left a positive impression on me.
Best regards,
Jim Blessing
AAA Northampton County Member
AAA Member Testimonial