Car Service Tips

Battery Warning Light

The Battery Warning Light, Electrical Fault Light or Charge Warning Light

This warning light is different in every car but normally it looks like a picture of a battery, similar to the picture provided here. You’ll see it come on and go off when you start your engine as part of the car’s self-test, but if this light comes on and stays on, it means the electrical charging system is no longer working properly and you’re likely to need some electrical repairs.

Think of it like a mobile phone battery. If the mobile phone is plugged into the charger, you can use it indefinitely, but when you disconnect it from the charger, there’s a limited amount of time before your battery runs out. It’s exactly the same in your car, only bigger.

Every car has an alternator – the charger – and a 12v battery used to supply power to the electrical system. If the alternator or part of the charging system becomes faulty or the drive belt to it snaps, then it will not be able to do its job.

The longer you drive, the more your car will use up the remaining juice in the battery and eventually the engine will die. The solution may require the checking of the components of the charging system or possibly a new or remanufactured alternator.

Our service technicians carry common charging system components and will be able to check your car, diagnose, locate and rectify to have you back on the road in no time.

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ACE Auto Electrician
Electrical Repairs | Car Service
www.aceautoelectrician.com.au
CALL 13 20 42

Battery Jumper Leads

Jump Starting Your Car

If your battery has been drain such as by leaving lights on for an extended period of time without the engine running, take the following precautions to prevent damage to the battery and the starter motor when jump-starting your car:

• Make sure the vehicles aren’t touching.
• Don’t risk causing damage to the battery or even for it to explode. Ensure both car batteries are the same voltage eg 12 Volt.
• With both cars off, connect a positive cable end to the positive battery terminal of the dead battery.
• Don’t let the cables touch each other.
• Connect the other positive cable end to the positive terminal of the source battery.
• Connect a negative cable end to the negative terminal of the source battery.
• Attach the remaining negative cable to unpainted metal on the car engine (as far from the dead battery as possible).
• Wait a few minutes. Turn on the headlights of the disabled car before starting it. This absorbs voltage spikes that can cause damage to your vehicle’s computer. Try to start the disabled car. If it doesn’t start, start the source car and then try starting the disabled one again.
• When the car starts, be careful to disconnect the cables in the reverse order.
• If the car still doesn’t start, don’t keep trying to charge it or you are liable to damage the starter motor. Call us to arrange a service technician to attend to your car.
• Even if you’re successful, ensure a full recharge by hooking up the battery to a charger overnight or by driving the car for 8 to 16 km or at least 30 minutes. Depending on the condition of the battery, additional time may be required.

About the Author
ACE Auto Electrician
Electrical Repairs | Car Service
www.aceautoelectrician.com.au
CALL 13 20 42

Battery Problems

Disconnecting and Reconnecting Your Battery

If you’re going to do any work on your car involving electrical repairs especially with the electrical system, disconnect the battery first.

To do this, loosen the connector for the negative/ground terminal first, and wiggle the terminal cap off. Use a wire-tie or similar to tie the cable back out of the way. If you need to take the battery out, you can now take off the positive connector.

Why negative then positive?

If you disconnect the positive side of the battery first, the negative side is still connected to the entire car. If you drop a tool and it lands on the positive battery terminal and touches anything else on the car, you’ll have an electrical short. By disconnecting the negative first, you’re cutting off the return path for the current. Now, if a tool drops on to either of the battery terminals, it doesn’t matter if it touches part of the chassis or not – there’s no continuous path for the electrical current.

Reconnecting your battery.

Connect the positive terminal first, and the negative second – the reverse of removal, and for the same reasons. When you slip the negative connector on, there will be a spark as it gets close and makes contact with the negative battery terminal. Don’t be afraid of this – it’s nothing to worry about. Make sure the terminal caps are done up nice and tight.

Note that if your car radio is coded, disconnecting the battery will clear the code on the radio so ensure you have the code available to reset the car radio after the battery is reconnected. Also note disconnecting the battery on some cars may result in clearing codes from the cars computer which will need to be reset after the battery is reconnected. Our professional service technicians will be able to assist when required.

About the Author
ACE Auto Electrician
Electrical Repairs | Car Service
www.aceautoelectrician.com.au
CALL 13 20 42

Battery Terminal Corrosion

Checking Battery Terminals

Most modern cars run on a 12 volt negative ground electrical system. If your battery terminals or contacts aren’t clean, you’re making it more difficult for the current to pass around the electrical system and you are likely to experience car battery problems.

Remove the terminal caps by first loosening the connector for the negative/ground terminal and then disconnecting the negative/ground terminal from the battery (refer to Disconnecting and Reconnecting Your Battery).

Second repeat the process for the positive terminal. Clean each contact post with a wire brush to get a nice clean metal contact surface. Do the same to the terminal caps, then reattach them by reconnecting the positive terminal first, and the negative/ground terminal second (refer to post on Disconnecting and Reconnecting Your Battery).

About the Author
ACE Auto Electrician
Electrical Repairs | Car Service
www.aceautoelectrician.com.au
CALL 13 20 42

Car Battery Maintenance

Check your battery regularly to extend its life and avoid the hassle of being stranded with a dead battery.

• Do not smoke, create a spark or light a match near a battery.
• start simple, keep your battery clean. A dirty case can actually cause current to drain. Wipe with a damp rag. Use a mild detergent if necessary.
• Next, clean the battery posts or terminals (refer to other information in sections Checking Your Battery Terminals & Disconnecting and Reconnecting Your Battery).
• Inspect the battery case for damage, such as cracks or bulges (signs that a battery needs to be replaced).
• On certain batteries, coat the terminals and clamps with a thin coating of grease to prevent new corrosion.
• Some batteries need water. If your battery has vent caps, remove them to check the level of the electrolyte. It should rise 1/2 inch (13 mm) above the battery’s top plates. If it doesn’t, use distilled water to raise the level to 1/4 or 3/8 inch (6 or 10 mm) below the bottom of the vent cap. Don’t use tap water, as it may contain minerals that can damage your battery. Our technicians check your battery as a part of your regularly car service or scheduled maintenance.

About the Author
ACE Auto Electrician
Electrical Repairs | Car Service
www.aceautoelectrician.com.au
CALL 13 20 42