Understanding Automotive Problems

You may think about your car as a machine that runs on gasoline. But, if the electrical system is not working, you're not going anywhere, even with a full gas tank. Here is how to troubleshoot the most common electrical problems in your car. Many you can fix yourself. Some will require a trip to the auto repair shop, like Tom's Husker Automotive Inc. All of them need attention for your car to keep running well.

Isolated Electrical Problems

You head off to work in your car and turn the radio on to get the traffic report, but it doesn't work. If everything else that uses electricity in the car works, such as power windows and wipers, you likely have a blown fuse. When only one electrical device in the car is not working, it's often a fuse.

When you are stopped, find the fuse box for the car. It is often in a panel on the driver's side of the dashboard or in the glove compartment. If not, check the owner's manual for the location in your car. Then do the following:

1. Find the section in the owner's manual on the fuse box. It will say what fuses control which devices in your car. Open the fuse box.
2. Find the fuse corresponding to the device that's not working.
3. Pull the fuse out and replace it. Many cars have spare fuses located in the fuse box area. If not, head to an auto parts store to get the right fuse.

Light Problems

The exception to the above rule is when a light goes out. If both lights in a system fail, it still could be a fuse. So, if both headlights, both tail lights or both turn signals don't work, look for a blown fuse. If only one of the two lights is not working, it is likely a bulb, which you can replace.

Go to the auto parts store and get the appropriate replacement bulb. Changing the bulb is different for each car make and model, but a general rule of thumb is:

For the headlights or front turn signals:

1. Open the engine hood.
2. From within the engine, identify the bulb to be replaced. Most often the connector will twist out of the headlight assembly and you can pull out the connector with the bulb.
3. Pull out the burned out bulb and replace it with your new bulb. Push the connector back into the headlight assembly and twist to secure.

For the tail lights, brake lights or rear turn signals:

1. These are often accessible from within the trunk or by removing the plastic lens covering the lights.
2. If access is from the trunk, the bulb connector will twist out similar to the headlights.
3. If access is from outside, remove the screws along the edge of the plastic lens and carefully pry away from the car to get to the bulbs.

Battery and Alternator Problems

If your car turns over slowly when trying to start it, or all of the lights go dim when you turn the engine off, the battery may be failing. The other possibility is that the alternator is not charging your battery. To test this, you first need to charge the battery. If you have a battery charger at home, charge the battery, and then do the following:

1. Start the engine.
2. Open the engine hood and find the battery.
3. While the engine is running, remove the negative battery clamp from the battery.
4. If the alternator is OK, then the car should run smoothly with the battery disconnected. If the car begins to wind down, then the alternator needs to be replaced.
5. If the test shows that the alternator is working, head down to the auto parts store for a new battery while the old one still works.
6. If the alternator is faulty, get your car into an auto repair shop to replace it. Besides the alternator, the belt and tensioner may need to be replaced which makes this a bigger repair than you may be able to handle.