Chapter 16

Electrical Problems (Shorts)

An electrical problem (sometimes called a short) can be one of the most frustrating problems you will ever encounter. A short can be caused by a variety of things including:

• The coating on a power wire gets damaged exposing the copper wire and this copper wire comes into contact with a ground;

• An improperly installed component such as a radio or a car phone; or

• A faulty component or a even a faulty bulb can cause a short.

When you have a short it could lead to a wide variety of additional problems. For example, a short can cause a constant draw on the battery causing the battery to fully discharge. This would result in an unusable battery and you need to buy a new one.

A short can also damage components of the vehicle's electrical system and can cause a situation where a fuse constantly needs replacing. This means that your vehicle's alternator, power windows, power door locks, electric fuel pump, radio, car phone or other electrical device may cease to work even if the short is found and repaired. The point is that if your vehicle develops a short, it is best to deal with it quickly.

So, how does one deal with a short? First, identify what it is that is not working. Often times a short condition is intermittent, which sometimes makes it hard to diagnose. Once you are sure you have a short and you have identified what it is that is not working you should take the vehicle to a repair facility that you know and trust. A short is a situation where having a relationship with a repair facility is important.

Tell your repairer what it is that is not working and, if it is intermittent, tell how often it occurs. It is important to give the repairer as much information as possible. Be forewarned, no repairer likes chasing electrical problems so the easier you can make it for them the better. The difficulty with fixing a short is that the repairer could easily spend several hours and not locate the problem. There is generally no way a repairer can give you an estimate of how long it will take to locate a short. As the consumer, it is discomforting to think that the hourly charges are accruing and there is no definitive schedule as to when and if the problem is going to be corrected. This is why it is important to go to a repairer that you trust and who will work with you and it is also why it is very important to give the repairer as much information as possible.

Sometimes it is best to go to a local dealer where the mechanics are most familiar with the make and model of your vehicle. Once you have gathered all the information, you may get lucky and find a mechanic who recognizes the problem because they have fixed this same problem before on another vehicle.