# Battery, Alternator & Starter in Arlington, VA, Tab Motors Auto Repair | Exxon

> Battery, alternator and starter service in Arlington, VA at TAB Motors | Exxon. Free battery test, same-day replacement. Call (703) 243-3080.

## Business facts
- **Name:** Tab Motors Auto Repair | Exxon
- **Address:** 4035 Old Dominion Dr, Arlington, VA 22207
- **Phone:** (703) 243-3080 (call or text)
- **Hours:** Mon–Sat 7 AM – 7 PM
- **Rating:** 4.9 stars from 60+ Google reviews
- **Type:** Full-service auto repair shop + Exxon station; AAA Approved Auto Repair
- **Inspections:** Official Virginia State Safety Inspection & Emissions Testing station
- **Service area:** Arlington, McLean, Falls Church, Alexandria, Vienna, Fairfax, Great Falls, Ballston, Clarendon, Rosslyn, Cherrydale & Washington, DC
- **Perks:** Free air, free coffee, honest upfront pricing

## Battery, Alternator & Starter
Slow crank, dashboard flicker, or a no-start? We test the whole charging system, battery, alternator and starter, and replace what's actually failing.

Nothing ruins a morning like a car that won't start. The cause is almost always one of three things, the **battery**, the **alternator**, or the **starter**, and telling them apart takes a proper test, not a guess. TAB Motors tests the whole system for free, so you replace the part that's actually dead instead of the one someone guessed at.

## How we find the real culprit

- Load-test the battery to see if it still holds a charge

- Test alternator output to confirm it's charging correctly

- Check the starter draw and connections on a no-start

- Inspect terminals, grounds and cables for corrosion

- Scan for charging-system fault codes

## Virginia weather is hard on batteries

Between humid DC summers and cold winter mornings, car batteries around Arlington rarely make it much past three or four years. Heat cooks the internals; cold hides a weak battery until the one morning it won't turn over. If yours is on the older side or you've noticed a slow crank, a quick test now beats a jump-start in a parking lot later.

## Same-day fix

We stock quality batteries and can replace an alternator or starter the same day on most vehicles. A weak battery can also throw off [electronics and warning lights](./engine-diagnostics.html) and even affect an [emissions "readiness" check](./virginia-emissions-inspection.html), so it's worth handling before it snowballs.

## Frequently asked questions
**Is my problem the battery or the alternator?**

That's exactly what our free test tells us. A battery that keeps dying after a jump often points to a failing alternator, we confirm it before replacing anything.

**How long do car batteries last around here?**

In the DC-area climate, usually 3–4 years. If yours is older and cranking slowly, have it tested.

**Can you replace my battery the same day?**

Yes, we stock common batteries and can usually swap it on the spot after testing.

**My car clicks but won't start, what is that?**

A rapid clicking is often a dead battery or bad connection; a single click can be the starter. We'll test to be sure.

**Do you check the charging system, not just the battery?**

Always. Replacing a battery without checking the alternator is how people end up stranded twice.

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Call (703) 243-3080 or visit 4035 Old Dominion Dr, Arlington, VA 22207.