Many people are attracted to hybrid and electric cars for a variety of reasons. Cutting down on tailpipe emissions, fewer to no stops at gas stations, and other advantages can be enjoyed by anyone willing to take the plunge. One area of concern that quite a few shoppers have is what kind of maintenance hybrids and electrics require. After all, maintaining hybrid cars and fully-electric vehicles can seem daunting, considering how technologically advanced they are. This guide to maintaining an electric or hybrid car will help you feel less intimidated!

Guide to Maintaining an Electric or Hybrid Car

Electric and hybrid cars have many of the same components as standard gasoline automobiles, so most areas which need repair are similar to your typical vehicle.

Engines

Remember that hybrid cars still have a gasoline engine, which works in tandem at least part of the time with one or more electric motors. That means the usual maintenance items you would expect with a traditional vehicle will be required on electric hybrid vehicles, such as oil changes, timing belt replacements, valve adjustments, etc. Of course, the amount of maintenance required and the cost varies from one model to the next, so it’s a good idea to check out how different options compare before you make a final purchase decision.

The owner’s manual in your vehicle, or the manufacturer’s website, should offer detailed instructions on how to care for the engine. A maintenance schedule should be part of the instructions, taking the guesswork out of when you should have certain items addressed by a technician.

There are also diesel electric hybrid car models on the market. Like the gasoline versions, these require the same kinds of maintenance items as the traditional version of the same vehicle.

One big advantage of hybrid cars is that the gasoline or diesel engine isn’t put under as much strain, when compared to non-hybrid versions of the same model. This means wear and tear on the engine is less, so if maintained properly it should continue running without any major problems far longer.

Motors

Both hybrid and electric vehicles come with at least one electric motor. There are few moving parts in them, a stark contrast with gasoline engines. That means less can break or go wrong, so little maintenance is required. When components do wear out, it’s far easier for a technician to replace them, so the cost is quite a bit lower.

Hybrid-Specific Components

When looking at hybrid car repair, you might be surprised to find there’s really nothing beyond what you’d do with a traditional vehicle. The manufacturer has a checklist of items that should be inspected at certain mileage intervals, with many of them matching what you’d do with any other car. A qualified technician who’s familiar with your specific vehicle make will know exactly what to look for in terms of potential problems, catching them before they can develop into something serious.

Little of the regular maintenance items involve hybrid-specific components, although how much this is true depends on the exact hybrid model you own. Unlike gasoline engines, batteries and electric motors don’t need oil changes, valve adjustments, or even new timing belts on a regular basis. In other words, you’ll actually need to spend less to maintain the hybrid system on your car, making it a wise financial move.

Coolant

Hybrid and electric cars for the most part use coolant, just like traditional vehicles. Not only do hybrid cars have an internal combustion engine to keep below dangerous temperatures, it also must regulate the temperature of the battery pack. This means sending the coolant over a larger area of the car, which requires a more complex setup.

You must maintain the liquid at an ideal level, otherwise the car won’t run correctly. In some extreme cases, a vehicle could suffer serious damage from overheating because of a lack of coolant. It’s a good idea to check the coolant level once a week, or more if you’re driving in especially hot weather.

Just like other vehicles, hybrid and electric cars need coolant changes at regular intervals. Because of the more complex nature of the cooling system, this particular maintenance item can be more involved. That translates into more expensive, because techs must perform more work each time. The good news is the coolant usually doesn’t have to be replaced any more often than in other vehicles.

Batteries

Some people have been concerned about buying a hybrid or electric car because of the potential cost of replacing batteries. It’s an honest worry, considering that with traditional cars an owner will replace the battery multiple times.

Unlike the batteries in traditional cars, the batteries in electric hybrid vehicles are large, complex and quite expensive. It’s understandable that anyone would be worried about replacing such a costly component, especially if it needs to be replaced every few years.

The fact is that may hybrids and electric vehicles run for well over 150,000 miles on the original battery pack. There are electrified taxis in cities such as New York and San Francisco that have been able to go well over the 200,000-mile mark without replacing the battery. In other words, you don’t really need to worry about this any more than you need to worry about replacing the engine in a traditional car.

T3 Atlanta

Are you the proud owner of an electric or hybrid car and want to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape? T3 Atlanta services all Infiniti, Toyota, Nissan, and Lexus vehicles. Call us at our Smyrna (404 794-7700) or Decatur ( 404) 633-7722) locations, and we’ll get you back on the road in no time.

 

Thanks to an automotive technology called shocks, we enjoy a more comfortable and controlled ride. It wasn’t always like that, because back when cars were still relatively new machines the ride was bouncy and rough.

Automobile Shocks: How They Work

The common misconception is that car shock absorbers actually support the vehicle’s weight, but that’s far from the truth. What they really do is control any movement in the suspension and springs. To get a little scientific, shocks do this by taking the movement or kinetic energy and converting it into heat. That energy is stored inside the shocks’ hydraulic fluid, before escaping into the surrounding air.

If you were to cut a car shock in half lengthwise, you’d see a cross section of how it works. There’s a long piston rod with a piston on one end, which sits flush with the walls of the shock cylinder or pressure tube. Hydraulic fluid sits inside as well.

When the car drivers over a pothole or bump, the piston is forced up and down in the pressure tube. Small holes in the piston, called orifices, allow the hydraulic fluid to pass through. Because the flow is only slight, thanks to the size of the orifices, the shocks are able to absorb the energy transferred from the suspension and vehicle springs.

All shocks provide greater resistance the faster the suspension bounces. This allows for adjustments based on different surfaces, making for a more comfortable ride quality on rough pavement Of course, not all shock absorbers are made equal. Some provide more resistance than others, thanks to factors like the size and number of piston orifices.

Automobile Shocks: Recognizing Trouble

Now that you have a basic understanding of what shocks are and how they work, you’re ready to learn the different warning signs that they need to be replaced. Failure to replace worn shock absorbers not only means you’ll be enduring a rougher ride; it can also lead to damage as the undercarriage comes into contact with the road. That’s why you should always be watching for these warning signs, the taking action as soon as they crop up.

You should know that shocks don’t just suddenly wear out. It happens gradually over time, so you might not realize what’s going on until they’re pretty far gone. That’s why when you’re in doubt, have a trained auto tech take a look to see if the shocks are bad enough to justify swapping them out, preventing serious damage.

Also, know that you can’t just replace your shocks after a set number of miles. How quickly they wear depends on how you drive your car, what the roads are like where you live, etc.

One of the telltale signs of worn shock absorbers is a bouncier ride. If you notice that when you go over bumps in the road, your car dives up and down wildly, that means you need to have the shocks inspected. The problem could also manifest when you drive over a series of small bumps or ripples in a road, with the traction control system light flickering on in the instrument cluster as one or more wheels literally bounces up and down while struggling to attain enough grip.

Most people realize that bottoming-out is a bad thing, so that’s perhaps the most obvious sign of worn shocks. The problem usually first manifests when you go over railroad tracks or have trouble with steep driveway skirts.

If you hear a strange sound whenever the car goes over a bump, that also can signal trouble. As the shocks age and reach the end of their life, they can begin creaking, popping or making other noises that let you know it’s time to have them replaced.

When you hit the brakes hard, like during a panic stop, your car might lean forward slightly before coming to a complete stop. If the front end dives down hard, that can be a sign of worn shocks. The same is true with what’s called acceleration squat. If when you accelerate hard, the back end of the vehicle sinks down, that’s not a good sign.

Too much body lean is another indication something’s wrong. When they’re in good condition, a vehicle’s shocks regulate at least some of the body lean, which boosts handling ability and comfort when navigating through turns.

Perform This Simple Test

You can perform a simple test at home to tell if the shocks on your vehicle are worn enough that they need to be replaced. Push down as hard as you can at each corner of the car, then let go abruptly. If after you release the vehicle it keeps bouncing, you likely need new shocks.

T3 Atlanta

The only way to tell for sure if a vehicle’s shock need to be replaced is to have a highly skilled technician look at them. At T3 Atlanta we have all of the necessary equipment and training to take great care of your car.

You get into your car, turn the key and…nothing. Your car has no power and won’t start. Chances are that your battery is no longer holding a charge and that you will be replacing your vehicle’s battery.

Replacing Your Vehicle’s Battery

Your car’s battery is located under the hood of the car. It contains sulfuric acid and water. There are two metal terminals on top of the battery. One is for the positive terminal and the other is for the negative terminal. The positive terminal can be identified by a “+” sign or the word “positive”.

The battery contains metal plates that store current from the car’s alternator. Your car battery stores electrical current. It passes electricity through the car to make the engine run. The battery will send current to the starter and is what makes the engine turn on.

The cruddy deposits that can form on top of your car’s battery terminals come from the acid inside the battery. You can brush the deposits off with a wire battery brush which can be purchased at an auto parts store. Or, you do it yourself by mixing one tablespoon of baking soda in a cup of water. Just wipe the solution around the terminals and it should easily fall off.

Avoid getting these powdery deposits on your hands or clothes. If you do, be sure to wash it off right away. A tip to keep these deposits from forming in the first place is to grease the terminals and stick two pennies nearby.

Do’s and Don’ts of Replacing Your Vehicle’s Battery

If you are an experienced mechanic you can replace your car’s battery yourself: 

• While the engine is off and the hood is popped locate the battery.
• Detach the black or negative cable first from the battery. You should be able to loosen the nut with a wrench.
• Try to pull the end of the cable with your hand.  If you find it difficult you may want to purchase a battery terminal puller. Most auto parts stores sell tools especially for this task.

Tip: Do not use a screwdriver to remove it. This could break your battery terminal and cause damage.

• Detach the positive or red battery cable using the same method as you did for the black or negative cable. Use a wrench to remove the battery from its clamp.
• Next, remove the battery from its tray. You should use both hands for this since most batteries heavy. If you are lucky, your battery type will be one with a handle on top.
• Once the old battery is removed, clean the area before installing a new battery. Use a wire brush to clean the cable connectors. There could be heavy corrosion on these. Use a premixed solution of baking soda and water combination to clean the whole area well.
• Place the new battery in the tray.
• Secure it with the hold-down clamp. Spray both terminals with your cleaning solution.
• Attach the red or positive battery cable and then do the negative or black cable.
• Make sure everything is secure and tight. The battery should not be able to move back and forth.
• Crank the engine of the car to see if everything is working correctly.

Most car batteries can be recycled. If your battery cannot be recycled, you need to dispose of it correctly since it contains hazardous materials. There are ways to make a few bucks off of recycling your old battery.

• Contact your local scrap yard and see if they will offer you anything for your old battery.
• Many auto parts stores will take a deposit on a new battery when it is purchased so you may be able to get a pay-out when you turn it back in to them.
• Several retailers offer you a free gift card if you turn your old battery into to them. Even if they do not offer anything of value most stores that sell batteries collect old batteries for recycling. Check with your local auto parts store for all the details.
• Contact your local recycling center. Many centers will pay you for turning your old battery in.
• If your car is a hybrid those batteries are designed to last longer but they will still need to be replaced. Many hybrid car batteries have the recycle instructions listed on them. If you are confused about disposing of this type of battery you can always contact the car’s manufacturer for more details.

Remember, if you are going to change the battery in your car yourself, that you are going to be exposing yourself to hazardous materials. Safety should be your uttermost priority. There is no need in harming yourself or others just trying to be thrifty.

Let T3 Atlanta Replace Your Vehicle Battery

Avoid the hassle of installing a new battery and disposing of the old one by trusting your Lexus, Infiniti, Toyota, or Nissan vehicle to T3 Atlanta.  T3 Atlanta will make replacing your auto battery hassle-free.