In this latest instalment of our Dodson’s Japanese PartsWorld blog we will be talking about electrical parts and the benefits of knowing the ins and outs of what makes your vehicle tick.
As technology has advanced over the years, we have seen the rise in electrical tools such as the reversing camera, on-board computers and the like become common additions to more and more vehicles. It’s increasingly important therefore to understand the electrical components of your vehicle and how to fix them should they malfunction.
Should this happen you can always count on our team here at Dodson’s Japanese PartsWorld to have an affordable solution for you, but regardless, it is always a good idea to know a bit more should you be able to fix the problem yourself. After all, the whole point of this blog is education.
Car Batteries – Do’s & Dont’s
The hub of everything electrical in your motor vehicle, car batteries are an essential part of your car’s genetic make-up and because of this they need to be maintained to keep them performing in top-notch condition.
- Do’s:
Check terminals where cables connect for corrosion – if corrosion is present have the terminals cleaned by a professional. Additionally, frequently lubricate terminals with a dash of petroleum jelly to maintain and keep the cables cleaner for longer.
Ensure battery is always secured firmly to its mounting bracket – an unsecured battery can become damaged and result in short circuits.
Keep battery case clean – by using a solution of a dash of baking soda distilled in warm water, you can lengthen the life of your battery by cleaning the outer case of any dirt which can discharge your battery.
- Dont’s:
Don’t charge a frozen battery – it could explode! Check to see if your batteries sides are intact and not bowed out, if they are, it is frozen, irreparable and time for a replacement!
Try not to charge a dead battery with a car’s alternator – they are not designed as a charger and may be permanently damaged or have a shortened life because of it.
Headlights
Before looking into repairing or replacing your car’s headlights, troubleshoot the problem to know the extent of what needs to be done.
If only one headlight is working then it’s fairly clear what the problem is: one of the bulbs has burnt out and needs to be replaced. This is simple enough and can be done by yourself or one of the friendly team here at Dodson’s.
Headlights will not turn on? It’s extremely unlikely that both bulbs would burn out at the same time so if you are faced with this problem then it’s more probable that the actual fuse has burned out. Try removing the fuse and expecting it, if it is burnt then there will be a gap in the filament.
If this happens to you then bring it into us; there is only so much you can do yourself and for issues such as a burned out fuse, it’s always a good idea to get in touch with the pros.
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For all this plus your speedo sensors, ABS computers, electrical relays, fuel pumps, water pumps, dashboards, gauges and any other electrical parts; simply give us a ring today and lets us know how we can help here at Dodson’s Japanese PartsWorld. It’s what we are here for.