Electrical troubles with your vehicle are among the hardest problems to solve, even for a seasoned mechanic in Williston, ND. Why? Because getting to the bottom of the problem is nearly impossible unless you know where to start. The fact is, auto electrical problems present a lot of symptoms that can be construed as the root problem, but at the end of the day, they’re just another variable and not really the culprit.
Thankfully, in the age of computer diagnostics, mechanics are able to at least isolate electrical issues when they arise. Based on error codes logged in your vehicle’s onboard computer, a mechanic can tell where power failures are occurring, which helps them trace an issue back to the source.
Now, all of this is comforting if you realize your vehicle has an electrical problem… but unless you’re looking for the signs that come with it, you might not even see the problem until it’s too late. In fact, most auto owners realize they have an electrical problem with their vehicle when they try to turn the engine over and get nothing but clicks!
So how exactly do you spot an electrical issue before it winds up in a stalled car? There are a few key things you can look out for and take note of:
- When idling with your headlights on, check to see if the beams flicker or change brightness at all. This is a sign that intermittent power is being received and that there’s a disruption in the current somewhere, likely from the battery.
- Radio on the fritz? You might think it’s a short or a faulty fuse, but in reality it’s likely an electrical issue. In fact, even if there is a short or blown fuse, it’s likely the result of a larger problem with your vehicle’s electrical—a prime example of when a problem is actually just a symptom!
- Does your vehicle take a few tries to turn over when you’re starting it? This could be any number of issues, including an electrical one. If your alternator isn’t being supplies with adequate power, it’s going to have trouble starting.
- Is your engine rumbling like a monster truck while you idle? Shoddy spark plugs may be the culprit. While this might be an ignition component, if there’s no current to create the spark, it’s still not going to work properly.
All of these things and more can signal an electrical problem that’s just waiting to erupt. Whether it’s a dead battery, a faulty alternator or an issue embedded deep within the wiring of your vehicle, there’s a good chance the ensuring problem can be avoided with some comprehensive electrical repair.
Have a mechanic in Williston, ND run a diagnostic scope on your vehicle and test its electrical to make sure everything is in good working order—especially if you observe any of the issues above. If you’re lucky, you could catch a costly problem before it leaves you with a dead vehicle at an inopportune time!