Discover everything about the electrical components of a car and prolong its useful life.
Working with a car’s electrical components can be challenging.
They are similar to conventional household electrical parts in the sense that they need to be installed or connected directly to a source of energy – in the case of a car, a battery. However, they can be more complex and require specialized labor.
In this article, we introduce you to the main electrical components of a vehicle and which signs of potential damage you should pay special attention to.
Electrical components that make up a car: What they are and what they do
All vehicles have a system made up of three fundamental electrical components: the battery, the starter motor and the alternator.All these components work together, which means that any electrical problem in one of these components will affect the other parts of the system.For example, the battery is the component that supplies the energy that the starter motor needs to run, while the alternator supplies some of the energy that the battery needs. A failure in just one of these three electrical components will result in a vehicle not starting or not functioning as it should.
The 3 main electrical components and how they work:
1. The battery
A vehicle’s battery is responsible for providing all the necessary electrical current before the vehicle starts moving.
This includes powering the ignition, the fuel system and the starter motor itself. That’s why the car doesn’t move if the vehicle battery is low or flat.
2. The alternator
The alternator is responsible for powering the electrical system when the vehicle is working. Once the engine is started, the alternator takes over.
This electrical component also provides the charge needed to charge or maintain the battery.
3. The starter motor
The starter motor is the key element of the engine, being directly responsible for ignition.
The battery supplies the energy, but alone it is not capable of starting the engine. This means that even if the battery is working correctly, without the help of the starter motor, it cannot start the car.
Other automotive electrical components:
- Electric windows;
- Assisted driving;
- Headlights and other external lights;
- Clean windshields;
- Air-conditioning system;
- Among many others.
How to recognize electrical component problems for good repair and maintenance
The best way to prevent problems in the electrical components of a car is to carry out preventive maintenance at specialized auto repair shops.
Older or high-mileage vehicles are especially prone to problems with electrical components, especially in the starter system. Therefore, vehicle overhauls must go far beyond changing the oil and also focus on the electrical part.
Some of the most common warning signs to watch for in a car’s electrical components:
1. The vehicle does not start easily
If the engine is malfunctioning, you will hear a click as you turn the key instead of the usual starting sound.
This usually means that there is not enough current flowing from the alternator, the starter or the battery. Usually, the problem is with the battery, but it could also be the starter motor.
2. The vehicle loses power
If there is a problem with the alternator, the battery will not have enough power to stay charged, and the electrical components system runs out of power.
It is possible that the car will run for a while with an alternator malfunction, but it will not be able to continue working for a long time. That’s why a dead battery can also be an indicator of an alternator problem.
Keep in mind that battery problems can also cause the vehicle to lose power or not work properly.
3. The vehicle lights are not working properly
Every light in the vehicle has its power source. Therefore, if the lights are not working, it could be a sign of battery or alternator problems.
For total driver safety, it’s critical that the headlights and taillights are working properly, but there are other lights that are essential, including the interior lighting system and the dashboard monitoring system.
These lights keep drivers and other vehicles safe on the road, so it’s important to solve the problem as soon as the lights start to malfunction.
4. Blown fuses
The vehicles have an integrated control system called a fuse box, which guarantees the protection of the electrical components, avoiding voltage spikes and short circuits.
Fuses are designed to blow out if there is an electrical problem. While a blown fuse is generally a minor problem, several blown fuses (especially in a short amount of time) can indicate an underlying electrical problem.
Even if this is just an occasional problem, it is important to check for blown fuses every time the vehicle is brought in for repair.
5. Strange odors
One of the signs that there is an electrical problem in your vehicle is an unusual smell while it is running, usually similar to burnt plastic.
If this happens, you should stop the vehicle immediately to identify the source, especially if any of the above mentioned problems have also been noticed.
Ensuring that a vehicle’s electrical components are working properly will definitely prolong its life.
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