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The battery has two important functions. It provides the electrical charge that starts your engine, and it maintains the electrical systems when the engine is switched off. A battery has a limited lifespan, and will eventually need a new car battery from your Mazda dealer. We'd like you to know some signs that your battery could be failing. Signs You Need a New Car Battery From Your Mazda Dealer The Battery Is Old On average, a car battery will last for three to five years before it needs replacement. The battery stores electricity in the form of chemical energy. The chemical processes that allow the battery to store electricity will slowly fail as the chemicals themselves break down and recombine. A battery's longevity is also reduced by extreme weather and even driving conditions. A battery will always show some signs that it's failing. Some of the signs of a failing battery include starting difficulties, dim lights, and random electrical issues when the engine is switched off. If you spot any of these signs, visit us for a battery test. We'll connect your battery to our battery tester. This device subjects your battery to a variety of tests to determine its strength. If your battery is failing, we can easily replace it for you. Warped Battery Casing In a cold Ohio winter, you'll notice that your battery takes longer than usual to start your engine. This issue is caused by the cold conditions reducing the battery strength. Extreme hot or cold weather for an extended period can result in more serious damage to a battery. The weather and changes in external pressure affect the battery chemicals and can cause the casing to distort. The chemicals inside the battery can't escape as the pressure in the battery changes. The increase in internal pressure can cause the battery casing to warp. The damaged battery casing will reduce the battery strength, and this can illuminate the check battery light on the dash. If you pop the hood and see your battery is distorted, it's time to visit us for a replacement. Rotten Egg Smell Hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs and is a dangerous and corrosive chemical. It can form in your engine when the battery starts to fail. As sulfuric acid in the battery breaks down, it releases hydrogen. Hydrogen gas can escape the battery, where it joins with sulfur in the engine to form hydrogen sulfide. This new chemical is drawn to the positive and negative battery terminals, and it will slowly corrode them. The corrosion will cause further damage to the battery and make it more likely to fail. If you smell hydrogen sulfide, your battery is failing and will need to be replaced. If your battery is failing, call us ASAP at Mazda of Wooster, and we'll replace it for you.

When you hit the brakes, they should respond quickly and with the stopping power they're designed to. If your brakes aren't working as well as they should, it's time for brake repair. Your friendly Mazda dealer can fix any problem for you. These are a few signs that something is going wrong. Your Car Pulls to One Side Your Mazda braking system should react almost immediately, and your car should stop completely. If you jam on the brakes and your car continues to move and turn to one side, there's a serious problem. This problem is caused by the failure of the brake on one side of your car. The problem could be a blockage in the brake hose or a damaged brake caliper on the affected side. If the caliper is jammed, it won't close on the rotor, and your wheel won't stop. A blockage in the brake hose will prevent the brake fluid from exerting the necessary hydraulic pressure. Our technicians will check your braking system and fix the problem. Worn Brake Pads Your brake pads provide the friction that's essential for bringing the rotors to a stop. The pads fit inside the brake calipers, and the calipers are forced against the wheel rotors by pressure from the brake fluid. The pads have a friction material covering, but this covering gradually wears off each time you use your brakes. When the material covering reaches the end of its useful life, you'll hear screeching from your brakes. The screeching is caused by a metal spike buried in the material. This spike will scratch against the rotor as a reminder that it's time to change your pads. If pads aren't replaced, the screeching will eventually change to a grinding noise. This sound is caused by the metal calipers tearing into the surface of the rotor. To prevent further damage, the pads need to be changed immediately. Soft Brakes If you step on your brake pedal and it provides almost no resistance, this is a sign of a problem. The lack of resistance means that there's low pressure in the braking system. This low pressure could be due to a fluid leak or a blockage in the braking system. Another possibility is a damaged brake master cylinder. The brake master cylinder controls the braking system. It controls the flow of fluid from the brake fluid reservoir and generates the pressure the braking system requires. A fault or damage to the master cylinder can prevent the generation of the necessary pressure. Our technicians will examine your braking system to find the cause of the problem. Call us today at Mazda of Wooster, and your brakes will work perfectly in no time.

Transmission repair can be daunting, especially if you aren't familiar with how transmissions work. It's not uncommon for even the most diligent drivers to find themselves gradually slipping into failure. The following signs will tell you when you need to visit your Mazda dealer to fix a faulty transmission: 1. Transmission Fluid Leaks A leaky transmission usually means a faulty gasket or seal. There are many possible causes and reasons for leaks, but the transmission will need to be replaced in nearly all cases if the leak is bad enough. You must catch transmission fluid leaks early because they can cause more serious damage if left unchecked. 2. Rough Shifting If you notice that your Mazda is having difficulty shifting or going into the next gear, it might indicate transmission wear. This can signify too much slippage, which can lead to transmission failure. Additionally, if you're doing a lot of stop-and-go driving, this might point to worn-out transmission components. 3. Shaking or Jerking Another sign of transmission wear is shaking or jerking when entering a new gear. The reason for this is that the transmission has a hard time keeping up with the demand for acceleration, especially if you are shifting gears more often than usual. Getting this fixed will stabilize your car while driving. 4. Hard Starting A hard start indicates transmission wear. This is because the fluid might not circulate properly, or there might be a carbon buildup inside the transmission. Remember that this is not a common sign of transmission failure and is typically just a matter of getting your Mazda checked out. 5. Strange Engine Vibrations A faulty transmission can cause engine vibrations in the dashboard and steering wheel. This means the gearbox isn't working as smoothly as it should, which could indicate a larger issue with your transmission's internal components. 6. Noisy and Erratic Engine Vibrations If you're experiencing strange engine vibrations as well as rough shifting, this could indicate that the transmission is starting to fail. The only way to find out for sure is for your dealer to completely diagnose your vehicle with a scan tool and confirm whether or not the transmission needs replacement. 7. Engine Light Stays On If your "Check Engine" light keeps coming on, this is a sure sign that your transmission needs attention. The engine light is triggered by faults within the engine or the fuel delivery system. Since the transmission is related to power and fuel delivery, it can be a symptom of a larger problem in your car. If you notice any of the above symptoms, it's best to get your car checked out by your dealer as soon as possible. Visit us at Mazda of Wooster for any transmission services or replacements your vehicle needs.