Electrical Diagnostics near you

Description:

The battery is the backbone of the electrical system. Most vehicles use a lead-acid battery. The battery is made of a plastic case, containing an arrangement of positive and negative lead plates separated by synthetic plate separators.

The plates are connected to a set of terminals, which provide connection to the vehicle. The battery is filled with electrolyte, a mixture of sulfuric acid and water. The electrolyte and lead plates provide the chemical action necessary to store and release energy.

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 the longest life, automotive batteries are intended to keep a relatively consistent charge.

If you decide to change the battery yourself, be aware that many vehicles 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, rather take it to a recycling center that accepts automotive batteries.

Description:

The starter consists of an electric motor that powers a starter drive (a special pinion gear designed to engage with the ring gear of the flywheel or torque converter). Many of today’s starters also use a gear reduction to increase the torque output of the starter. The starter is usually mounted to the rear of the engine or the front of the transmission housing.

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. Each spring, prior to travel season, it’s wise to have your vehicle’s starter tested as part of a comprehensive starting, charging, and battery test.

This test will determine whether your vehicle’s starter is drawing its normal amount of current. Excessive current draw usually means a worn starter and results in hard starting. Take your vehicle to D & R Car Care so a professional service technician can get to the heart of your vehicle’s starting system problem.

Description:

The voltage regulator is an electronic device that regulates alternator output according to the battery’s state of charge and accessory loads. Today’s compact electronic voltage regulators may be housed inside the alternator or the voltage regulator function may be handled by the vehicle’s powertrain control module (PCM).

Purpose:

The voltage regulator manages the alternator’s output according to vehicle operating conditions. The voltage regulator must balance the needs of a fully charged battery, long battery life, accessory loads, and long light bulb life. For these reasons, voltage regulators must operate at specified voltages.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:

Each spring, it’s wise to have your vehicle’s charging system tested as part of a comprehensive starting, charging and battery test at D & R Intensive Car Care and Lube Center. This test will determine whether your vehicle’s alternator/voltage regulator team is doing its job as designed.

Symptoms of a faulty voltage regulator may include a discharged battery, short battery life, poor accessory and lighting operation, frequent bulb replacement, lower than normal dashboard voltmeter readings, an illuminated charging system warning light, frequent topping off of the battery’s electrolyte, and diagnostic trouble codes stored in the vehicle’s PCM.

Also, a bad alternator may cause repeat failures of the voltage regulator, so keep this in mind. Isolating the cause of your vehicle’s charging system woes is best left to the skills and experience of a qualified service technician at D & R Intensive Car Care and Lube Center.

Since the functions of the alternator and voltage regulator are so closely interrelated, it takes the right combination of training and equipment to pinpoint the fault. D & R Intensive Car Care and Lube Center has the most up-to-date equipment and highly trained technicians in the area for these problems.