Sometimes when you purchase a completely new car, your expectations can be pretty high. Even though electrical systems have been a huge compliment to the classic machanics in cars, they can still come with a handful of drawbacks. Poor electrical systems at times can indicate a flaw in the manufacturing process or could be a clue that your new car might not be as new as you were led to believe, and it can be difficult to discern which one of these possible explanations is the case. To try and help you figure out what potential problems your vehicle may have, we have put together a few common electrical problems that new cars tend to have (as well as what they might indicate about your vehicle).
A Dead Battery
This is often times the go-to assumption when the electrical system isn’t working. An easy test is to flash your headlights and, if they turn on, see how bright they are. A dead battery may mean that it needs a jump, that it needs replacement altogether, or that your car may have been more pre-used than you might like (or thought). On the other hand, your battery may not be dead but there could be hardly any power in the battery at all. You’ll know the difference when you check and either your lights are super dim or they don’t turn on at all.
Damaged Starter
The starter on your vehicle is the little feature that starts the car. Which means that if the starter is damaged, you won’t hear that little ‘click” when you turn on the ignition. The battery could possibly just not be fully charged, but if the starter isn’t working properly then there isn’t any way the battery can get your vehicle running. A damaged starter would warrant repair/replacement and would most likely have suffered from prior damage.
Damaged Alternator or Alternator Belt
The alternator is responsible for charging the battery while the car is running, as well as distributing additional power to other facilities like the headlights/radio. If you start your car and you notice that it starts pretty slowly or certain electrical systems are flickering then it may mean that the alternator is not recaching the battery or that it isn’t distributing power throughout the car consistently. Having a damaged alternator might mean that a dysfunctional one was installed from the start, or it could mean that it was used quite a bit already. In both situations, we recommend that you replace the alternator sooner rather than later.
Ignition Issues
Ever turn your car key and have nothing happen? We bet that a handful of you have experienced this issue at some point or another! Unfortunately, there isn’t really an easy way to guess where along the powertrain that has started or what you need to focus on addressing. Taking your vehicle in and getting it checked out would be your best solution.
Damaged Fuses & Loose Wires
This can thankfully be an easy fix at times (imagine big celebrations going off)! Checking the fuse box is the first thing that you want to consider when something seems to not be right. If you can check your fuse box on your own and see what fuses may be blown then awesome! If a fuse isn’t blown and you think there may be some loose wires, we recommend that you take your vehicle in and have it looked at. Dealing with loose wires on your own can be quite dangerous and could even lead to creating new problems.
Hopefully the issues stated above can really help you figure out what problems your vehicle may be experiencing right now. If you would like to have a professional check things out and run a diagnostics to find out where the problem is coming from, and possibly give you some extra information that may help you find out whether your new car is really all that new, feel free to give us a call and we would be happy to help!
-The Star Team
