When you take off on a trip, you hope for easy travels without any problems along the way. A breakdown is a sure way to ruin a trip. The potential of a breakdown is true for every type of vehicle and trip, whether it be a road trip in a car, a winter adventure on a snowmobile or off-roading rugged trails on an ATV. While not every breakdown can be prevented, there are some steps you can take to reduce the chances of an unanticipated problem.
Many times, advice for prepping a vehicle for a trip focuses on the simple things like checking the oil or coolant level and making sure tires are inflated properly. Those suggestions are all good, but there’s more to do to be on the safe side. You certainly don’t want major components failing while traveling. Before you take off on your adventure, stay aware for signs of problems from electrical components like starters, alternators, solenoids and voltage regulators.
Warning signs of pending failure for vehicle electrical components:
1) Starters: The most obvious sign is that the vehicle exhibits hesitation to start. Rarely would the starter go from fast starts to complete failure. There will be a period of time when the vehicle shows sluggishness in starting. Of course, numerous other causes also exhibit this sign. So that’s when you want to consider other signs, too. If you also hear clicking, grinding or whining sounds when starting, you might suspect the starter, Also, consider how well electrical components like lights are performing. If your lights are shining brightly without fading or flickering, it’s more likely the starter and not the battery or alternator.
2) Alternators: Just like the starter, a failing alternator will also make the vehicle more challenging to start. So what are some signs that lead to suspecting one component over the other? As mentioned previously, lights will shine brightly when the starter is going bad. But for an alternator, you may notice some fading or flickering of lights. You may also notice erratic performance of the radio or sluggish operation of power windows. Additionally, if your battery drains quickly, the alternator is a prime suspect.
3) Solenoids: If you notice a pattern of your vehicle sometimes starting quickly and other times exhibiting difficulty, that is often a sign of a solenoid problem. Another common solenoid problem is when the starter is slow to disengage after the key or starter button is released. You should listen for audible signs, too. A series of clicks indicates battery or starter problem, but a single click points more toward the solenoid as the suspect.
4) Voltage Regulators: This electrical component does exactly as the name suggests. It regulates the flow of electricity to allow enough but not too much. When a voltage regulator begins to fail, you’ll notice some erratic performance. Lights whose brightness fluctuates could be a sign of a failing voltage regulator. If you suspect your voltage regulator, check it with a multimeter. If you see variable readings from low to high, the voltage regulator is not doing its job.
5) Batteries: Check the strength of your battery with a battery tester or multimeter. Batteries are some of the most common electrical components to fail. Every battery has a finite lifespan, which can be shortened by factors such as a failing alternator. Extreme temperatures from cold to hot also weaken batteries. The signs of a failing battery are similar to many other electrical parts. Clicking ignition, dim lights, hard starts and inability to hold a charge are common indicators of a battery needing replacement.
Fix electrical problems before your next trip
You want your next trip to be worry free. If you are getting any signs of pending electrical problems, get your vehicle inspected before taking off. The last thing you want is to become stranded somewhere or find yourself spending time in a repair shop along the way.
