A vehicle that runs on Monday but doesn’t start on Tuesday usually is diagnosed as a failure of one of three things – the starter, the alternator or the battery.
Whatever the diagnosis, the situation in itself can be extremely frustrating, particularly if you own a custom import automobile. Our Grapevine TX auto care experts want you to be educated in what to do when your car stalls and how to determine if it’s one of the three issues.
Fortunately, the problem isn’t as difficult to diagnose as some may think, primarily if you own a voltmeter, which is used to measure voltage potential between an electrical circuit’s two points. These are relatively inexpensive devices, ranging anywhere from $20 on up.
- Check No. 1: If your automobile will not turn on but the headlights are dim when your key is in the ignition, chances are, you have a low or near-dead battery. If the headlights are bright, you could have a starter issue. If a voltmeter shows less than 12 volts on a battery, charge that battery and then start the car. If the voltmeter shows anywhere from 13.5 to 14.5 volts, your problem isn’t the alternator. Simply replace the battery. If your problem is the alternator, replace it, and recharge your battery.
- Check No. 2: If your battery passes the voltmeter test, but the car still doesn’t start, listen for a clicking noise. If you hear the noise, you don’t have a starter issue. However, if you don’t hear the noise, check your electrical fuses and your starter relay. Your relay should click when the key is turned in the ignition. If your relay does not click, you have a bad starter.
- Check No. 3: Put the key in the ignition. If the engine does not turn over when you turn the key, then chances are, it’s your alternator. The battery starts the car, but the alternator operates the car and charges the battery. When it fails, the battery fails. If the engine does turn, this could be engine trouble, which could be a bad ordeal.
Diagnosing your vehicle’s electrical system can be difficult at first, but we hope these tips will assist you. For more information, call our Grapevine car care technicians, or contact us online today.
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