Battery Service For Your Ford

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Why is "preventative" battery maintenance important?

If you’ve got a dead battery, you can’t just get it serviced when it’s convenient for you. You’re stranded. That’s why it’s important to keep your battery free of corrosion and to have it checked regularly by the people who know your vehicle’s electrical system inside and out at Mike Dorian Ford in Clinton Township, Michigan.

You’ll help keep your battery at its very best and our technicians can spot battery troubles before they become serious.

Do you need battery service and how to spot symptoms of battery failure?

Your battery may be worn or damaged if you:

See corrosion or damage to the battery cables or terminals
See worn drive belts
See that your battery is bulging or deformed
Feel loose battery cables or terminals
Feel the battery is able to wiggle or move in its mounting
Constantly experience charging or electrical system problems
Experience trouble or difficulty getting your engine to start

If any of these symptoms occur, you should get your battery tested at Mike Dorian Ford in Clinton Township, Michigan. Call (888) 856-1308 ext 3 to make an appointment for service.

What happens when you come in to the Dealership for battery service?

You’ve just brought your vehicle in to our service department specifically for a problem with your battery. Now what? One of our Service Advisors will ask a technician to diagnose the problem.

Then, our Service Advisor will take you through the technician’s diagnosis, step-by-step. If it shows that your battery needs service, there’s no better place to have it done than right here at Mike Dorian Ford.

Once you’ve OK’d the services we recommend for your vehicle, we’ll

get you back on the road as quickly as possible. And you can rest easy knowing that our:

Batteries are designed specifically for your vehicle.
Technicians have the most up-to-date electrical system training for your vehicle.

How do you choose the right battery for your vehicle that suits your driving needs?

If your vehicle needs a new battery, the our service experts at Mike Dorian Ford will consider these factors to make sure you’re getting a battery that’s right for you. For example, you don’t want a battery that will have trouble starting if you live in a cold weather climate. You also don’t want to overpay for cold cranking power if the area you live in is warm all year.

Consider these factors when purchasing a battery:

Battery Group Size
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
Reserve Capacity (RC)
Battery Date Code
Warranty
Original equipment vs. aftermarket
Battery Group Size

Check your owner’s guide to find the battery group sizes that will fit in your vehicle. This is the physical size of the battery, and most vehicles will allow for more than one group size.

Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
CCA determines how well your battery will supply ample power for 30 seconds at a temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

In general, use the number recommended by your owner’s guide or the CCA of the battery that was originally installed on your vehicle.

Beware of batteries that only display hot cranking amps (HCA) or cranking amps (CA). These batteries might not be as powerful as you think and may not perform when the temperature drops.

Reserve Capacity (RC)
RC measures how many minutes the battery can supply power before falling below the minimum voltage level after the alternator has failed.

In general, the higher the number, the better. This is an important factor to consider if you’ll be operating electrical equipment on your vehicle while the engine is off.

Battery Date Code
At Mike Dorian Ford, we’ll always use “fresh” batteries. A battery that’s been on the shelf for an extended period can lose some of its charge, and might not perform the first time it’s started.

If you do get a battery that’s been on the shelf for a long time, it usually regains its full potential and long-term performance by being charged in the vehicle or with an external charger.

Warranty
Make sure you’re comfortable with the warranty. Look at how long the free replacement period is, and if there is any coverage on a pro-rated basis beyond that point. Motorcraft® battery warranties are nationwide and honored at all Ford and Lincoln Mercury Dealerships, so you don’t have to worry about being protected no matter where you are. Full details are available at Mike Dorian Ford in Clinton Township, Michigan.

How can you keep your battery in top shape no matter what the temperature is?

The best thing you can do for your battery is to have regular maintenance performed at Mike Dorian Ford in Clinton Township, Michigan. Every vehicle maintenance schedule includes a battery check at each interval.

If you spot corrosion in between visits, you can easily clean it up to make sure the damage doesn’t get serious.

You’ll help extend the life of your battery and our technicians can spot any problems before they become serious. Check your owner’s guide for vehicle-specific information on caring for your battery.