Automotive electrical
The automotive electrical system in my opinion is the most important support system of a modern car or truck. Imagine your own personal vehicle without an electrical system. The gasoline engine would not run. Electricity provides the needed spark for combustion, plus the power needed for starting. At the bottom of this page are some exciting articles that review electrical principles, component operation, circuit design and testing procedures. Learning this stuff is absolutely necessary to be successful in diagnosing complex automobile systems. The rest of this page is an overview of this section.
The recent advances made in the auto electronics field have allowed the efficiency of the vehicle to increase greatly. It is this new technology that allows greater fuel economy at the same time that it increases horsepower and torque. Both professional technicians and do-it-yourself auto mechanics need to be able to diagnose and service both electrical and electronic automotive systems.
Automotive electrical or electronicsSome but not all do-it-yourself car mechanics often get confused about the meaning of these two terms and the actual difference between them.
Electrical automotive systems refer to the wiring and the electrical car parts such as generators and alternators, lights, voltage regulators and starter motors.Automotive electronics is a reference to computer control modules and other black box type items used to control engine operation as well as vehicle systems. A good understanding of electrical principles is important to properly diagnose and repair any of the systems that are monitored, controlled, or operated by electricity.
Automotive electrical section coverageWith a full understanding of electrical principles and operation, diagnosis will be easier and faster. I will put together articles that cover the basics first and work their way up to more complex electrical principles. The first article explains the basic principles of electricity. I will then get into the use of ohms law to determine voltage, current, resistance, and voltage drop. These measurements are often used during diagnosis, and quite often used when following car wiring diagrams.
I will cover other items related to auto electrical systems such as basic types of electrical circuits and their use in the modern day automobile. Another system that I find extremely interesting and is found through out today’s vehicles are the principles of magnetism and electromagnetism. Wheel speed sensors, cam sensors, crankshafts sensors, and many other engine performance related components use magnetism principles. So let's get started and dig into some of the articles below.
Auto electrical information articlesThis is a good place to start. Fulling understanding the facts about voltage, Amps, and resistance (Ohms) will aid in quicker diagnosis and repair of complex electrical systems. Here I explain the definitions of these automotive electrical termsOpen your mind to fixing electrical components instead of buying replacement parts. You can't always fix them but at least look at my page about repairing car electronics Automobile electrical problems can only be caused by 3 root failures. As complex as these systems can be the solutions are always traced back to these electrical circuit malfunctions If you prefer to learn from video this next link is for you. This is a five minute video that shows you the method I use for electrical diagnosis and how to use and find automotive wiring diagrams Replacing car parts that are not defective is a big problem for auto mechanics. If you do your own auto electrical repairs you can solve this problem with one inexpensive tool. Learn about testing with a multimeter When do it yourself car mechanics tackle electrical problems on their own vehicle it often starts with a blown fuse. This next article covers circuit breakers, fuses and other automotive circuit protection Learn about automobile wiring. See what kinds you will run into when diagnosing open or shorted wiring harnesses. This next article is all about the sizes, shapes and types of automotive wiring Understanding how current flow and resistors work together in power distribution helps you think like a mechanic when your staring at wiring diagrams. This next article discusses 4 types of automotive resistors I know that magnetism can be a dry subject. But your car will not start or run without it. Learn about magnetic crank sensors and automotive electrical magnetism Often replaced car electrical parts. Starting and charging is what gets you out of the driveway and back again! Learn how your car battery works together with starters and alternators 
Search both of my auto repair websites at one time with custom search  Custom Search The homepage is a great place to go to find out what else is covered on this auto repair website. This next link takes you from automotive electrical to Diy car repair advice
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