How are Electrical System issues diagnosed?
Electrical system issues are diagnosed through often painstaking and rigorous testing. Especially when it comes to intermittent electrical issues, electrical issues are seldom easy to solve, and they often require testing the entire electrical circuit involved. Technicians rely on years of experience and classroom training to understand automotive electrical systems and computerized controls. They may use multi-meters, factory diagnostic software, test lights, resistors, external power sources, and many other specialty tools in order to find the cause of an electrical issues.
How are Electrical System Inspections done?
Correcting electrical issues may require a variety of procedures, but commonly the battery will be disconnected, obstructing trim will be removed, and the faulty wiring or components will be separated from the main wiring harness to be replaced. Often it is necessary to remove corrosion and dirt from connectors in order to establish a good connection, and testing once the repair is complete is mandatory. Electrical problems can be located in any part of the vehicle, and significant disassembly may be required in order to facilitate repairs.
RepairPal Recommendations for Electrical System Inspections
We recommend seeing a professional when electrical issues arise, especially if it is not abundantly clear what is causing the failure. In many cases, intermittent electrical issues will need to see an automotive electrician or diagnostic specialist, so bringing a complicated to any non-certified mechanic is not likely a good course of action.
What to look out for when dealing with Electrical issues
Many vehicles with difficult electrical issues may need a diagnostic specialist to identify the cause. Many repair facilities would rather send the vehicle to a specialist than spend copious amounts of shop hours or customer costs on an issue that will require extensive diagnosis. There are specialty diagnostics shops that solve these problems regularly, and the most likely problem type is an intermittent electrical issue.
Can I inspect the electrical systems in my vehicle myself?
Electrical repair beyond fuses, obvious wire damage, dirty connectors, and bad relays should be left to a professional. These systems are highly complex, and technicians spend years in classroom and hands-on training to learn the skills necessary to accurately and properly diagnose an electrical issue on modern vehicles. Also, understanding of electrical circuit diagrams and components function is required in many cases, and should not be attempted without specific electrical systems training.