What to do in case of electrical failure?

By Max Anthony •  Updated: 12/14/20 •  3 min read

With these tips, you will be able to get through this in a good way!

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Imagine that you are driving and suddenly the car stops. The radio and windows do not work, and the headlights do not turn on. Most of the time, this is a sign of electrical failure. Come with us to understand everything about the subject!

Everything you need to know about the electrical breakdown

The electrical failure is a problem related to the car’s power system. It is usually caused by some overload of the electrical system, causing one of the items in the system to stop working. In general, it can be a battery drain or malfunction of the alternator, which is responsible for supplying power to the lighting systems and accessories. 

If it happens to you, rest assured, this is a more common problem than you think! First of all, stop the car in a safe place – even if it is necessary to give that push, agreed? Then turn on the warning light to let other drivers know that your vehicle is in trouble. If you cannot connect it, use the safety triangle. You must then call some Automobile Assistance, which guarantees the car towing, the auto-rescue after a breakdown (which guarantees a professional to do the auto-rescue of the car at the emergency site), even an alternative means of transportation to the nearest car.

If the problem is the battery, it needs to be replaced. Some people insist on making the load transfer, the famous pacifier, but this is not recommended because the procedure can damage other systems in the car. Now, if the problem is the alternator, a specialist needs to analyze which component has been compromised: frame, stator, rotor, slip rings, brushes, voltage regulator, pulley, or cooling fan. Discovered this, just change! 

And as we are always here to give you a hand in everything, here are three tips for you to anticipate and prevent an electrical breakdown:

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Observe if the car does not start 

If you get in the car, turn the key, and it takes time to start, it is a sign that the battery is at the end of its life. If this happens on a recurring basis, go to an authorized dealer or an auto-electric company to see if there is a need to make the exchange.

Keep an eye on the panel

If the battery light on the panel turns on, there may be a battery or alternator problem. Go to a specialist and ask him to investigate what is going on. 

Perform preventive maintenance

Here is the secret to never be surprised by an electrical breakdown! When performing preventive maintenance, the professional checks all systems and ensures that everything is under control. To find out how often to do this check up, just consult the owner’s manual! 

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Max Anthony

Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.