CAUSES OF FREAK ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN A CAR -

causes-of-freak-electrical-problems-in-car

In this article, we’ll state some of the most common causes of freak electrical problems in a car.

These kinds of problems are not that rare, especially with modern cars, which are, in most cases, computers on wheels.

You may experience some appliances randomly not working, the appliance works only when something else is turned on, you may get dashboard warning lights for nothing, and the list goes on.

Well, if this is the case, here’s what you can check out to perhaps solve the problem.

Besides this article, you also have our YouTube channel, where you can find lots of car and driving-related videos that may help you.

1. A BAD BATTERY

One of the most common causes of freak electrical problems in a car is a bad battery.

If it’s damaged or the expiry date is near, it can cause, among other things, voltage fluctuations in the car’s electrical installation, and this can easily cause freak electric problems.

2. A BAD ALTERNATOR

The next cause is a bad alternator. A bad alternator can cause both low and high voltage for charging the car’s battery.

In both cases, it causes the mentioned voltage fluctuation, which will surely cause electric problems.

This issue can easily be checked with a multimeter; click here to see how.

3. BAD GROUND CONNECTIONS

If you have a loose or dirty ground connection on your car, it can easily be one of the causes of freak electrical problems in a car.

In this case, you should check the main connections from the battery to the car body and from the body to the engine.

Also, know that there are various other ground connections, usually located on the car body.

For more information about ground connections, click here to read an article dedicated specifically to that topic.

4. SHORT CIRCUITS

Regarding short circuits, in most cases, when the short circuit is obvious, the fuse blows, and you can easily recognize the problem.

But when talking about the causes of freak electrical problems in a car, there might be an occasional short circuit that happens only under certain circumstances.

A good example is if you have a pinched wire somewhere that causes a short circuit only when bent or pressed against metal. Otherwise, there is no problem.

When it happens, all sorts of freak electrical and electronic problems can happen, like certain appliances start working on their own or suddenly stop working completely.

5. DAMAGED WIRING AND CONNECTIONS

One of the most underestimated causes of freak electrical problems in a car is bad electrical connections and damaged wiring installation.

Rusty or filthy connections, broken connectors, loose connectors, pinched or damaged wiring insulation, broken wiring, and others are some common problems.

These can cause a wide range of issues. Some would be total loss of power to the appliance, the appliance works only randomly, it can cause a short circuit, and the list goes on.

6. BAD SWITCHES

A rarer cause of problems is various switches around the car. The light switch, the ignition switch, the stalk switch, the brake light switch, and so on.

Most problems regarding this matter come from material fatigue or physical damage to the switch but also because these switches are intertwined with various other electronic systems.

This means that a faulty brake switch, for instance, can influence how the headlights work.

7. BAD SENSORS

Bad sensors can cause a variety of freak electrical problems. For instance, one time, the car will start perfectly, but the next time, there will only be a long cranking.

Sensor problems are especially present in modern high-tech cars, where there are dozens of sensors.

The most common causes of problems are the low quality of the sensor, physical damage, filth, loose connections to the sensor, and material fatigue.

8. BAD ECU UNIT

The last on this list and perhaps the rarest cause is a bad ECU unit, also known as the car’s computer.

In most cases, the ECU becomes faulty if there is some kind of surge in the electrical system. This happens with a bad jumpstart, a bad alternator causing high voltage in the system, and so on.

In this case, there can be a wide variety of problems ranging from the car not starting (there is only cranking but no start).

Then there may be that whole systems will not work randomly, some systems will not work at all and else.

CONCLUSION

Remember this: modern electrical and electronic systems are highly dependent on a stable input.

Any kind of fluctuation regarding that input is a problem.

So, always first check the battery voltage and the alternator output voltage before you start further inspecting the problem.

Also, know that solving this car problem is often times complicated, time consuming and can be nerve-wracking.

But, luckily, in most cases, the battery and the alternator are the most common causes of problems unless there was some physical damage, factory flaw, or tampering with the installation.