It won't start, and the test is free
Battery, starter or alternator. They get misdiagnosed constantly, usually in the direction of a battery that was never the problem.
Batteries, Starters & Alternators in Wichita Falls, TX
It will not start. That is one of three things nearly every time, the battery, the starter, or the alternator, and they get misdiagnosed constantly, usually in the direction of buying a battery that was never the problem.
We test all three before selling you any of them. Call (940) 228-3800.
Request service
Someone will reach out shortly. Need it faster? Call us at (940) 400-3796.
Telling them apart
- Battery: slow crank, dash lights dim, worse when cold, fine after a jump but dead again the next morning
- Starter: one loud click, or nothing at all, while the lights stay bright
- Alternator: starts fine then dies while driving, battery light on, headlights dimming at idle. A jump gets you moving and then it dies again
The third one is why we test the charging system before selling a battery. A failing alternator will kill a brand-new battery in a week, and then you have bought both.
Diesel and dual-battery trucks
Most diesels run two batteries, and replacing one while leaving a weak one alongside it drags the new one down. If yours takes two, we test both and tell you honestly whether it needs one or the pair.
Heat kills batteries here
People expect batteries to die in winter, and that is when they notice, but it is a Wichita Falls summer that does the damage. Heat cooks the plates; the cold morning just exposes what August already did. If yours is over three years old it is worth a free test before the first cold snap.
Is the battery test free?
Yes, and we test the charging system with it. Selling a battery when the alternator is the problem just means you buy both.
How do I know if it's the battery or the starter?
A slow, laboured crank with dimming lights is usually the battery. A single loud click with the lights staying bright is usually the starter. Either way the test is free.
How long should a battery last around here?
Three to five years, and Texas heat pushes that toward the short end. Summer does the damage even though winter is when you find out.
My truck has two batteries. Do both need replacing?
Often, yes - but not always. A weak battery paired with a new one drags the new one down, so we test both and tell you which it actually needs.
Can you come to me if it won't start?
Call (940) 228-3800 and we will talk through it. Depending on where you are we can usually sort out getting it here.