An electric starting system is installed in every combustion engine-powered vehicle for the purpose of initially firing up the engine. From there, the charging system replenishes the power that was drawn to get the vehicle running, plus it powers your electronics while it's going. Contact online >>
An electric starting system is installed in every combustion engine-powered vehicle for the purpose of initially firing up the engine. From there, the charging system replenishes the power that was drawn to get the vehicle running, plus it powers your electronics while it''s going.
Explain the major parts and operating principles of a charging system. Explain the major parts and operating principles of a starter system. chapter will cover the fundamentals of vehicle charging and starting systems. The charging and starting systems are vital to the operation of almost every system on the vehicle.
A car uses quite a lot of electricity to work the ignition and other electrical equipment. If the power came from an ordinary battery, it would soon run down. So a car has a rechargeable battery and a charging system to keep it topped up. The battery has pairs of lead plates immersed in a mixture of sulphuric acid and distilled water.
The ignition circuit furnishes the high-tension impulses to the sparkplugs; and the charging system includes the generator, which recharges the battery. All the other circuits are called ancillary (subsidiary) circuits. Most are wired through the ignition switch, so that they work only when the ignition is switched on.
If you''re having trouble starting your car, it could be the battery, starter, alternator, or another component of yourstarting and charging systemthat is responsible. It''s important to inspect each one of them before you begin replacing parts. Whether you choose to diagnose your parts yourself or bring it to us, AutoZone is here to help you find out what''s wrong, so you can do the job right the first time.
It''s always a good idea to get arepair manual for your specific vehicle. Pop the hood and familiarize yourself with your starting and charging system. Learn about each component, what each component does and how to inspect for damages and other problems.
It would be nearly impossible to start your engine by hand, like you might see in one of the earliest models produced. An electric starting system is installed in every combustion engine-powered vehicle for the purpose of initially firing up the engine. From there, the charging system replenishes the power that was drawn to get the vehicle running, plus it powers your electronics while it''s going. In any vehicle today, you''re not going anywhere if your starting or charging systems aren''t functioning properly.
But anything electrical can be finicky and delicate, and issues can occur. It can be a bad wire, a loose connection, a bad battery, or any other part that fails, and you''ll be stuck with a car that needs repair.
The battery is a power storage device in your car that’s compatible with its 12-volt system. It converts chemical energy into electrical energy to power your vehicle. The three essential parts for this conversion are the anode, the cathode, and the electrolyte.
A positive post and a negative post complete the circuit, which is what every electrical system in your vehicle requires to operate. It’s made up of six cells, each around 2.1 volts when it’s fully charged, for a total of roughly 12.6 volts. Each cell has a negative plate and a positive plate inside, and electrons move between the two in an electrolyte.
If your battery is more than 4 years old, you should get it tested so you won’t be caught off-guard by a dead battery. You can do it yourself using a voltmeter or battery tester, or bring it to AutoZone to be tested for free.
Battery cables connect the battery’s terminals to the vehicle. One end of each cable is connected to either the negative or positive terminal.
The other end of the negative cable is often connected to the engine or somewhere on the vehicle’s frame.
The positive cable’s other end is typically connected to the starter or a fuse box cause the electrolyte keeps the charged particles from crossing the battery, electrical current moves from the battery, through the cables, and into the vehicle.
It’s common for corrosion to form on the battery terminals and cable ends as gasses seep out of the battery and react with the metals. Routine maintenance includes a battery service, which involves neutralizing the corrosion, cleaning it off, and protecting the bare metal surfaces.
As well, loose connections happen due to the constant vibrations in the engine bay. Make sure the cable ends are properly tightened every time you perform battery maintenance.
The moment you turn the key to start in your car (or push the button) a signal is sent to a relay, or series of relays. The main relay in this group is referred to as the starter solenoid. The signal, coming from the ignition, is low amperage. When it hits these relays, and the starter solenoid, this engages a high-amperage current which directly engages the starter.
Your vehicle’s relays and fuses regulate current in the electrical systems.
After reaching the relays and fuses, current continues to the vehicle’s various electrical systems.
When the starter solenoid engages, the starter’s gear, or "bendix" moves out to engage the flywheel or flexplate of the engine, turning it over. The turning of the engine allows the fuel air-mixture to enter into the engine cylinders for combustion, starting the engine.
A clicking noise when you turn the key is a good indicator of low battery voltage that is sufficient enough to engage the relays, but not enough to turn the motor. Often times, you will hear a buzzing sound. This sound is your starter solenoid not fully engaging because of low or insufficient voltage. Or, in some cases, a click indicates that your starter has gone bad. In these cases, a visual inspection and/or removal and bench testing is needed, which AutoZone provides. If the starter is soaked with oil contamination and requires replacement, be sure the oil leak is repaired to prevent damage to the replacement starter.
Once the engine is turning, rotational force from the crankshaft turns the belt pulley. The belt transfers this rotational force to other systems, like the power steering pump, the water pump, and most importantly for this article: the alternator.
The alternator performs two key roles in your vehicle. Most drivers understand that the alternator charges the car’s battery when the engine is running, and it does so by converting the rotation from a drive belt into an electrical current. The other role that’s less understood is that the alternator simultaneously powers your car’s electronics while the engine is running, with a battery’s power available as a backup.
An alternator works no different than a windmill or turbine, generating AC power, which is then converted to DC power inside the alternator. The three items responsible for this inside the alternator are the rotor, stator, and rectifier. The alternator works similarly, except it is turned by the belt rather than a hand or the wind. The two components responsible for generating electricity are the rotor and the stator:
The rotor features magnetized finger poles that rotate surrounding the wire field winding. Each finger pole is a different length to produce alternating north and south poles for the winding.
A rectifier is in a sense a valve. It converts AC power (Alternating Current) into DC power (direct current).
The spinning magnetized poles generate current in the winding, and this current provides the power that charges your battery. Inside your alternator, a voltage regulator makes sure that this voltage is maintained at a proper level for your car’s electrical system. This is usually somewhere between 14 and 16 volts.
Test your alternator using an alternator/battery tester or voltmeter (Learn how to test an alternator here).Ensure the drive belt is in good condition and does not slip on the alternator pulley.
A dead battery, one that won’t stay charged, or headlamps and interior lights that appear dim can indicate that your alternator is possibly bad.
Visually inspect your alternator for signs of a noisy bearing or roughness when turning the pulley.If the drive belt shows signs of wear, replace it to ensure the alternator will perform properly.
If equipped with an automatic belt tensioner, inspect it for wear and binding/sticking. If it does not move smoothly it should be replaced along with the belt.
If the alternator is replaced, be sure the battery is fully charged before starting the engine. This will prevent overload and potential damage to the replacement alternator.
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