Fixing a Few Simple Auto Electrical Problems on Your Own


Many car owners fail to think about their car's electrical systems; they may be concerned about the engine and fluid levels, but then don't consider the importance of the battery, wiring, and other electrical parts under the hood. However, if the car's electrical systems fail, the car may fail to start or just come to a stop and shut down altogether. Before it reaches that point, note a few tips on how to manage some simple auto electrical problems on your own.

Something works momentarily, then suddenly stops

If windshield wipers, overhead light, dashboard lights, or other such electrical components switch on momentarily and then suddenly stop, this could be a blown fuse. Just like tripping a circuit in your home will suddenly shut down an appliance, blowing a fuse in the car will then shut down an electrical part. Check your owner's manual if you don't know where the car's fuse box is located and look for a fuse that has popped out slightly. You can usually take the fuse to an auto parts store, and they can find the right replacement for you, and you can slide the new one into the fuse box relatively easily.

Grinding and clicking when you start the car

Usually if the car's battery is dead, you'll hear a clicking or grinding sound as you try to start the car. If you know you have a good battery, it may simply be that your car needs new spark plugs. If they're old and worn and aren't producing a strong spark, the engine cannot turn over. You can usually remove the plugs yourself and, as with fuses, take them to your local auto parts store and they can show you the best replacement plugs for your car.

Electrical systems struggle to work

If your wipers slow down the minute you turn on the air conditioner, or your dashboard lights dim when you touch the brake pedal, your electrical systems are probably not getting enough power. Usually this is the fault of an undersized battery, and it's a common problem when you install added electrical systems like a GPS, a smartphone charger, and the like; your battery may not be strong enough to manage all these components at once.

In this case, you don't need a larger battery as this will simply mean a battery that physically won't fit your car; instead, you need a battery with more amps. Check the amps of the battery in your car now and opt for one that provides more power, and your electrical systems should all work fine.

About Me

Al's Auto Blog

Hello, everybody, my name is Al and I am here to give you the lowdown on everything you need to know about automobiles of all kinds. It doesn't matter if you drive a family car, classic sports car, caravan or truck, my blog will have something for you. You might be wondering how I know so much. Is this guy a professional mechanic? No, I'm not a pro but I did grow up in my papa's auto repair shop so I learnt a lot as a kid. Since then, even though I work in a bank, I have kept my passion for autos alive at the weekends. I hope you enjoy my blog!

Search

Categories

Latest Posts

25 May 2017
When you own a commercial property of any sort, it's important that you consider how the exterior of the property is maintained. A poorly kept exterio

16 May 2017
If your car suffers a very light scratch, you might use a bit of touch-up paint to cover this over, and the car will look like new again. However, any

11 May 2017
An automobile is not designed to be banged up or to sustain a significant amount of damage in a collision. Certainly, they are crash tested just in ca