Question 1

What parts of the auto electrical system require maintenance?

Accepted Answer

Battery - The battery provides the power required to start the engine  Alternator - Maintains the charge level in the battery while the car is moving  Starter motor - uses power from the battery to start the engine  Solenoid -administers power from the battery to the starter motor  Voltage Regulator - Ensure the correct voltage level in the system  Fuse Panel - Provides protection for electrical components in the car  Connectors and Wires - connect the electrical system and close circuits

Question 2

What are the most common problems auto electrical systems can have?

Accepted Answer

Alternator belt - the alternator recharges your battery by harnessing the power generated by the engine by means of a belt and transferring it to the battery. If the belt breaks, loses tension or comes loose the alternator will no longer be able to maintain the charge in the battery  Broken or loose wiring - Electrical current requires a closed circuit to be conducted and the wiring system of your car connects the various electrical systems and provides the circuit. If an important wire comes loose, breaks, wears out or melts you could have a problem using your electrical components or even starting your car. This can be a difficult problem to diagnose  A flat battery - Flat batteries are a common problem and may not be cause for alarm. Accidentally leaving lights or other electrical items on without the engine running is often the cause. Once you have the car going the alternator should once again maintain a good charge. However, if, after driving around or running the engine for a while, the battery goes flat again it means you have a problem elsewhere. The battery itself may need replacing, the alternator could be faulty, the voltage regulator has a problem or even a combination of these  Normal wear and tear - all of your cars parts are susceptible to wear and tear in some form or another. The cars battery, solenoid and voltage regulator are a couple of auto electrical parts known to cause problems due to normal wear and tear  Blown fuses - Fuses in your car are a safety feature designed to protect your electrical components from serious damage from surges and overloads. Provided you are fortunate, a blown fuse will be your only problem when an electrical component of your car is not working. While this can happen occasionally, if it happens too often you should get your cars auto electrical system checked by a qualified professional as there is likely something causing a problem  Car will not start despite having a good battery - The solenoid may not be working correctly and is not allowing a sufficient charge to start the car. The solenoid is a coil of wire around two magnets that administers higher voltage than normal from the battery to the starter motor

Question 3

What are the signs an auto electrical system may need a service?

Accepted Answer

An odd growling or whining noise may indicate a problem with your alternator belt  Dimming or flickering headlights could mean your voltage regulator is having problems  Electrical items such as car stereo, lights, air conditioner and so on are just not working could be as simple as a blown fuse, though they may represent a deeper problem  Hearing a loud clicking noise when turning the ignition key may be linked to a problem with your starter motor  If there is no sound at all when you turn the key (the car doesn't start) - your solenoid could be at fault, particularly if the battery is known to be working correctly  Smelling burning rubber or hot wires could well be a problem with your alternator. Catching this problem early may prevent costly diagnosis of problems later and may even help prevent a fire in the electrical system.

Mr Spanners Automotive

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