Auto Club: Need a Jump or New Battery? AAA Battery Service Now Offered in San Diego

SAN DIEGO--July 15, 2004--Need a jump or possibly a new battery? The Automobile Club of Southern California now offers a fast and convenient mobile battery testing and replacement service.

Using state-of-the-art equipment, the AAA Battery Service diagnoses a battery's condition. Only faulty or failing batteries are replaced for Auto Club members. (More than 1 million members live in the San Diego area.) Last summer, the Auto Club's roadside assistance service performed 352,257 battery boosts, according to AAA Battery Service Manager Bill Howell.

"If your car needs a new battery, the AAA Battery Service can provide an on-the-spot replacement," said Howell. When a member purchases a new battery, they receive a $15 discount off the regular retail price. Prices vary according to size and batteries are available for most vehicles.

The AAA Battery Service technician, arriving in a white truck or van with the AAA Battery Service logo, can install a fresh battery that meets the manufacturer's vehicle specifications. Fresh batteries are batteries in stock less than 90 days and under a nationwide warranty, according to Howell.

Batteries last three to five years and older ones are vulnerable to summer heat and winter cold, he said. Slow turning of the engine indicates the battery may be weakening. Often without professional diagnosis, motorists buy replacements before necessary, Howell said.

The AAA Battery Service minimizes the inconvenience of a failed battery by:

-- Bringing the battery to the member

-- Running a battery and charging system test

-- Professionally installing the battery

If the AAA Battery Service comes to you and a battery is purchased, the call won't count as a road service call. The Auto Club will recycle all replaced batteries free of charge.

The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest AAA affiliate, has served members since 1900. Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services and automotive pricing, buying and financing programs. Information about these products and services is available at www.aaa.com.