Vehicle Electric Service
Alternator
Purpose: The alternator generates direct current for recharging the battery and for powering vehicle electrical loads.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: Have the alternator’s drive belt tension checked at every oil change.
A loose belt can reduce alternator output and run down your car’s battery. Each spring, prior to travel season, it’s wise to have your car’s charging system tested as part of a comprehensive starting, charging and battery test. This test will determine whether your car’s alternator is putting out the proper amount of current and voltage. Your car’s alternator is designed to recharge the battery after slight discharging such as engine starting; the alternator is not designed for charging heavily discharged (“dead”) batteries.
Relying on the alternator to charge a heavily discharged battery can overload the alternator and cause damage. In such cases, use a battery charger instead. An alternator problem can cause a discharged battery, poor accessory and light operation, frequent bulb replacement, repeat voltage regulator failures, erratic engine operation, or a dashboard warning light to illuminate.
Starter
Purpose: The starter cranks the engine when the ignition switch is turned to the start position. The starter drive uses an overrunning clutch that freewheels if the engine starts while the starter is still engaged, reducing the likelihood of damage to the starter drive and ring gear.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: To ensure good starter performance, check your vehicle’s battery cables at every oil change. The cables should be tight and free from corrosion. Corroded or loose connections can cause slow cranking, arcing at cable connections, and other electrical system problems. The battery case and terminals can be cleaned using a mixture of baking soda and water. As an added measure to fight terminal corrosion, chemically treated felt rings can be placed over the battery posts.
Each spring, prior to travel season, it’s wise to have your car’s starter tested as part of a comprehensive starting, charging and battery test. This test will determine whether your car’s starter is drawing its normal amount of current. Excessive current draw usually means a worn starter and results in hard starting. Take your car to a professional service technician to get to the heart of your car’s starting system problem.
Battery
Purpose: The battery converts chemical energy into electrical energy and vise versa. Given this unique ability, the battery: 1) supplies power to the starter and ignition system, 2) delivers the extra power needed when the electrical load exceeds the alternator’s supply, and 3) stabilizes voltage in the electrical system .
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: Your vehicle’s battery and its connections should be checked at every oil change. The battery should be mounted securely, as vibration takes a toll on battery life. On batteries with removable filler caps, the electrolyte should be checked and topped off with distilled water. Battery connections should be clean, tight and corrosion-free. To clean the battery case and terminals, use a mixture of baking soda and water. As an added measure to fight terminal corrosion, chemically treated felt rings can be placed over the battery posts. Batteries don’t always give warning signs before they fail.
If your vehicle’s battery is three years old or more, it’s wise to replace it. When choosing a replacement, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all battery. Make sure the new one has adequate capacity for your exact make, model and equipment. If you live in an extremely cold climate, consider upgrading to the largest capacity available for your vehicle. Battery efficiency drops off drastically in cold temperatures and the extra capacity can make the difference in starting on cold winter mornings. Avoid running your battery dead; deep-cycling (discharging and then charging) quickly takes its toll on battery life.
For longest life, automotive batteries are intended to keep a relatively consistent charge. If you decide to change the battery yourself, be aware that many cars may need to “re-learn” certain electronic engine control habits, like idle speed. Disconnecting the battery may also erase the memory of radios and other creature comforts like memory mirrors and seats. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for more specifics on changing the battery. Never discard an old battery in the trash. Take the old battery to a recycling center that accepts automotive batteries.
Cables
Purpose: Because of their size, cables are able to handle the large amount of electrical flow (current) needed for the starter and other high-current demands.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: Your vehicle’s cables should be checked periodically to ensure that they’re tight and free from corrosion. Corroded or loose connections can cause a wide range of electrical problems including a no-start, dead battery, and erratic electrical accessory operation. The most important cable connections are the battery terminals, which should be checked at every oil change. The connections should be tight and free from corrosion. The battery case and terminals can be cleaned using a mixture of baking soda and water.
As an added measure to fight terminal corrosion, chemically treated felt rings can be placed over the battery posts. If neglected long enough, cables will need to be replaced. They should always be replaced with a cable of at least the same diameter to minimize the effects of electrical resistance. Changing a battery or other cable may disconnect power to certain memory circuits like radios and other creature comforts such as memory mirrors and seats. If the vehicle’s power train control module is disconnected, it may need to “re-learn” certain engine operating habits, like idle speed.
Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for more specifics on what may happen if power is disconnected. Because of the wide variety of technicalities and techniques needed to properly service the electrical system on today’s cars, it’s best to have your car serviced by a qualified technician.
Cruise Control
Description: The typical modern cruise control system includes an electronic control module, a wiring harness, various switches, an actuating servo, input from the vehicle speed sensor, and vacuum controls.
Purpose: Cruise control automatically maintains consistent vehicle speeds, reducing driver fatigue during extended driving periods.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: As a system, cruise control doesn’t require regular maintenance. Generally, the system is taken for granted until it no longer works or works improperly. Most cruise ailments stem from simple things like a blown fuse, disconnected or damaged wiring, bad connections or grounds; cut, split, or broken vacuum hoses and fittings; and misadjusted, damaged or missing servo linkage.
Some common cruise control problems include the following:
- non-engagement
- inability to hold a set speed
- no response to switch inputs
- surging with the cruise set.
If your car’s cruise control system acts up, first check the owner’s manual to find the fuse location and make sure the fuse is OK. Replace the fuse if bad. Outside of a simple fuse, it’s wise to have your car’s cruise control system diagnosed by a professional service technician. Many of today’s systems are rather sophisticated and require special skills and training to get to the heart of the problem.
