A car that won't start doesn't automatically mean the battery is dead. While the battery could be the cause, the starter, alternator, cables, or other electrical component could also be responsible. You probably won’t be able to confirm the cause from the driver’s seat, but a few clues can help you…

St. Louis vehicles take a beating year-round. Winter road salt gets into every panel seam and wheel well, summer humidity accelerates oxidation on unprotected paint, and the daily grind of highway and city driving layers on grime that a standard car wash cannot touch. For drivers who want their vehi…