October is Car Care Month, and to celebrate, AAA East Central is offering free battery and electrical system checks to help motorists prepare for the upcoming driving season. AAA’s Mobile Battery Service vehicles and technicians will be on hand to provide free, on-the-spot battery and electrical system check-ups.
“Our number one service call during the winter is assisting members with dead batteries,” said Christopher Baldwin, AAA East Central’s Vice President of Automotive Services. “In addition to addressing a car’s fall and winter maintenance needs, we advise motorists to focus on the health of their battery today…not when it’s too late.”
Batteries have to work under huge temperature extremes, and stand up to constant shock and vibrations. Intense summer heat can cause corrosion and fluid evaporation, leaving your battery more vulnerable to the rigors of winter. Even the tiny amount of power required to maintain clocks and computer memories will gradually discharge a battery over time.
The clinic will be held in the following locations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
Thursday, 10/19-
- Monroeville - 2725 Mosside Blvd, Monroeville
- North Hills - 4790 McKnight Road, Pittsburgh
Tuesday, 10/24-
- South Hills - 160 Fort Couch Road, Pittsburgh
- Rochester - 300 Adams Street, Rochester
- East Liberty - Motor Square Garden, 5900 Baum Blvd, Pittsburgh
Thursday, 10/26-
- Monroeville - 2725 Mosside Blvd, Monroeville
- North Hills - 4790 McKnight Road, PIttsburgh
You do not need to be a AAA member to participate in the battery clinics; however, AAA members qualify for a discounted price on a replacement battery if they should need one.
In addition to ensuring the health of your car’s battery with the winter months fast approaching, AAA recommends the following fluids maintenance schedule:
- Oil: Cars today are designed to travel at least 5,000 miles between oil changes, and many newer models can be driven up to 7,500 miles or more before an oil change is necessary. Some vehicles that use full-synthetic engine oils have service intervals approaching 15,000 miles. Be sure to check your oil level, either under the hood or through the vehicle’s onboard computer system.
- Coolant: Requirements for flushing the coolant can vary from every two years to more than 100,000 miles, depending on the coolant type used. However, be sure coolant levels are correct as leaks in the system could cause major issues.
- Brake fluid: Most vehicle manufacturers recommend that brake fluid be replaced periodically to flush moisture and contaminants from the system. Check your vehicle owner’s manual for specific recommendations. If not specified, AAA recommends flushing the brake system and replacing with new fluid every two years.
- Transmission fluid: Modern automatic transmissions are increasingly being filled with "lifetime" fluids that do not need to be changed until the vehicle has traveled 100,000 miles or more. The owner's manual or maintenance booklet is the definitive source for specific transmission fluid requirements.
AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 81 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members. News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
For More Information, Contact:
Jim Garrity, Public & Community Relations Manager
Desk: 412-365-7274 / Cell: 412-905-9021 / Email: Garrity.James@aaaec.com
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