Newer cars ask more of the electrical system
Power sliding doors, liftgates, heated seats, big screens, cameras and engines that shut off at stoplights. A newer family vehicle has more electrical load than any car a generation ago, and far more computers managing it. When voltage drops even a little, odd things happen: warning lights that come and go, features that stop working, a start-stop system that quits stopping.
So on a modern car, electrical diagnosis starts with the basics and works up.
System components we work on
Your vehicle’s electrical system is a combination of the charging, starting, computer, ignition and lighting systems, with an alternator that keeps the battery charged. We repair all of it:
- Batteries. Including the heavier-duty types used in cars with start-stop systems, which need the correct replacement
- Starters and alternators
- Fuse boxes, relays and wiring
- Headlights and interior lights
- Ignition switches
- Battery drains that leave you with a dead car after a few days parked
Common signs
- Trouble starting. It’s the most common indicator
- A battery or charging warning on the dash
- Electronics that reset or glitch
- Lights that dim at idle
- A car that won’t start after sitting through a long weekend
Equipment and experience
Diagnosing these systems requires state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. It also helps to have a ton of experience finding and fixing the problems that come up. KC Martin has both. We test before we replace parts, so you pay for the fix and not for guesses.
If starting seems a bit off, bring it in as soon as you can. More detail is on our main auto electrical repair page.