Bruce's Tire provides Starting/Charging & Car Battery services to Oakland, CA, Fremont, CA, San Jose, CA, and other surrounding areas.

Expert Car Battery Replacement and Charging Systems Services

Every time you turn the key in your vehicle’s ignition, you count on the engine properly starting. But when there’s a problem and your vehicle won’t start, you need a professional you can trust to get it going again. Here at Bruce's Tire & Auto Service, our expert team is ready to handle any starting system or charging system needs you may have, from car battery replacement and installation to alternator replacement.

Whether you get stuck with electrical components that aren’t working correctly or a dead battery, the ASE-certified mechanics at each of our convenient locations can help!

Local Experts You Can Count on for All of Your Vehicle’s Power Needs

We know that it can be extremely frustrating when your vehicle is unexpectedly having trouble starting. That is why it is our goal to provide excellent service and get you back on the road as quickly as possible. 

A dead battery is the number one reason why a car won’t start at all, but there are also various other issues that may cause this. The expert technicians here at Bruce's Tire & Auto Service can test your battery’s charge and inspect the starting and charging systems to pinpoint exactly what the issue is.

We offer a variety of services to meet all your vehicle’s power needs, including:

• Starting and charging systems check: If you’ve noticed your vehicle acting up when starting or while running, our technicians can inspect the starting and charging systems. We’ll check your battery’s voltage level, inspect your starter, and test the alternator to determine if there are any issues
• Battery maintenance: Unfortunately, your car battery doesn’t last forever. But there are some things you can do to help extend its life. We can help you with that and perform ongoing maintenance, which includes cleaning the terminals and applying an anti-corrosion protectant.
• Car battery replacement: If your vehicle’s battery is dead, we can remove the old one, dispose of it properly, and install a new, high-quality battery.
• Alternator replacement: If your dashboard warning light is illuminated or you’ve noticed changes in your vehicle’s electronic components, there may be a problem with your alternator. When you have a bad alternator, we can properly install a new one and ensure your battery and components continue to get the charge they need to run optimally.
• Starter replacement: Is your vehicle struggling to crank? It may be time to replace the starter. Our technicians can double-check your starter and, if needed, install a new one and get you back on the road.

The Role Your Vehicle’s Starting and Charging Systems Play

Your vehicle’s starting and charging system is involved in regulating multiple electrical processes to start your vehicle's engine and to keep it running. The starting system consists of the battery, the starter motor, and the starter solenoid; together, they are responsible for starting the engine. The battery supplies the electric power necessary to start the vehicle.

The charging system consists of the alternator and the voltage regulator, which are responsible for routing energy throughout the entire electrical process while sustaining the battery’s charge.

The whole process starts when you turn on the ignition; the starting system sends power from the battery to the starter solenoid and the starter motor, which turns the engine to begin the internal combustion process. When the engine is running, the alternator powers the other electrical components in your vehicle, while the regulator controls the voltage supplied to each component. The regulator also ensures that the alternator maintains the battery’s charge so that the entire cycle can continue.

Possible Reasons Why Your Vehicle Won’t Start

A battery with no charge will, of course, prevent your vehicle from starting, but several other circumstances can cause a vehicle to have starting issues. These include:

• Corrosion on your battery terminals: Sometimes white or light blue, chalky corrosion builds up on the terminals located on the top of the battery. This corrosion can inhibit the proper electric flow through the attached battery cables. Luckily, this can easily be cleaned off with steel wool or a wire brush and a solution of baking soda and water (after disconnecting the battery!).
• Worn or clogged ignition system/fuel system components: Worn spark plugs or clogged fuel injectors can cause your vehicle to struggle to start. In both cases, the car cannot get the necessary levels of ignition or fuel to be able to properly start and run the engine.
• Bad starter: If a starter has gone bad, it won’t be able to convert the electrical energy coming from the battery into the mechanical energy needed to start the engine. A faulty starter will usually produce the same kind of rapid clicking noise that a dead battery would when you try to start the vehicle.
• Failing alternator: A failing alternator will not recharge your battery while the engine is running. In this situation, after you’ve been driving around for a while and have turned your vehicle off, your vehicle will not start again. Sometimes a bad alternator will cause a parasitic drain on your battery, which will also result in the vehicle not starting.

If you’re having trouble starting your vehicle, the ASE-certified technicians at any one of our Bruce's Tire & Auto Service locations can help pinpoint the problem, perform the necessary service, and get you back on the road with confidence.

Signs That Your Vehicle’s Starting or Charging System May Need Service

The optimal operation of all the components within your vehicle’s starting and charging system is necessary to ensure proper performance. One bad link among them can render the entire electrical process useless.

Slow cranking engines and dim headlights can sometimes point to a problem with your vehicle’s starting and charging system, specifically the starter or alternator. Because the battery is required for the electrical charge needed to start the rest of the electrical system, a weak or dead battery can also prevent your car from starting.

If a jump start refuses to revive your battery and the starting system, our staff may need to take a closer look at the other components of the starting and charging system to determine if you need a battery replacement, starter replacement, or alternator replacement.

Indicators That Your Auto Battery May Be Dying

There are specific symptoms that you can watch for that indicate that a battery is dying. Being aware of these signs can help you prevent being stranded by a vehicle that won’t start.

The signs that a battery is dying include:

• A buildup of corrosion on the battery’s terminals.
• A burning rubber or sulfuric “rotten egg” smell coming from the battery.
• The engine is slow to start.
• Extremely dim headlights.
• The power locks or windows are not working.
• The stereo is not working properly.
• There are one or more warning lights illuminated on the dashboard.

If you experience problems with starting your vehicle or maintaining its power even after trying a jump start, it is important to get your vehicle to our location nearest you ASAP for an inspection. Our service staff will check the battery as well as the other components of the starting and charging system on your vehicle.

Bruce's Tire proudly serves the vehicle starting, charging, and battery needs of customers in Oakland, CA, Fremont, CA, San Jose, CA, and surrounding areas.

Common Things That Drain Car Batteries

Usually, a battery will last between 3 and 5 years. This can vary depending on the type and brand of battery. Like most vehicle parts, the lifespan of your battery depends on how you treat it.

Normal use causes your battery to gradually lose its ability to properly hold a charge over time. There are a few things that can shorten the lifespan of your battery that you should be aware of. These include:

• Interior lights or headlights left on: When your vehicle is turned off, the battery is no longer being charged by the alternator. If any lights are accidentally left on, they will only be pulling from the battery itself as the power source and can significantly drain the battery’s charge.
• Leaving accessories plugged in: Any vehicle accessories that are left plugged in after you turn the vehicle off can leach power and drain the battery.
• Weather conditions: Hot temperatures or extremely cold temperatures put extra stress on an auto battery and make it harder for it to properly hold a charge. This is because the iron-based electrolyte solution that most batteries rely on to hold a charge is much affected by extreme temperatures. In extremely warm temperatures, the electrolyte solution can begin to evaporate, while in very cold temperatures it struggles to efficiently transfer the full level of power.

You can help ensure your car battery lasts as long as possible by simply remembering to check that all lights are turned off and that any accessories are unplugged before you exit your vehicle.

Also, preventative battery maintenance tasks, like periodically cleaning the battery terminals, replacing old battery washers, and applying a silicone dielectric grease to the terminals, can all help protect your battery’s performance.

Schedule Your Service Appointment Today!

Our expert ASE-certified technicians at each of the conveniently located Bruce's Tire & Auto Service shops have the knowledge, expertise, and professional tools and equipment to meet all your vehicle’s starting and charging system’s needs. From new car battery installation to alternator replacement and everything in between, we’ve got you covered!

If you are looking for a top-quality auto care shop with unmatched customer service, schedule your appointment today!