What Are the Most Common Starting & Charging System Problems?


The starting and charging systems in your car, SUV, or truck are crucial to the overall performance of your vehicle. It consists of many wires, relays, circuits, and fuse boxes. More importantly, there is the starter, battery, and alternator. Therefore, it is a huge advantage for drivers to be able to tell when these systems go bad early to avoid a headache later. Here are the top 4 most common starting/charging system issues:

#1 - Dead Battery

A battery that is drained or can’t hold a proper charge is one of the most widespread problems across all automobiles. When your car simply won’t start, it can be frustrating. In some cases, you can get away with a jump start and by cleaning off the corrosion on the battery. But, it could also be the end of the battery’s life. 

#2 - Bad Alternator

The alternator is what makes up the charging system. As you can probably guess, it is responsible for recharging the battery with juice. Additionally, it also supplies electricity to some of your car’s accessories that you probably use every day: radio, power windows, headlights, and more. If it is malfunctioning, you may notice a loss in power output. Eventually, your car battery will also die out too.

#3 - Malfunctioning Starter

An electrical starter problem isn’t commonly discussed, but it is more common than you think. If you hear a clicking sound on start-up attempts, it is most likely always a starter problem. Have a professional technician with electrical experience check it out. 

#4 - Blown Electrical Fuses

Your vehicle has many fuses, and a blown one may be the root cause of the problem. Luckily, there is a fuse box that is not hard for our mechanics to access. A fuse replacement is all that is needed to have your car functioning again.

Let us take the stress out of your hands by handling your starting or charging system problems. If you experience any of the above electrical problems, please do not hesitate to call or visit the local experts at The Auto Doc. We look forward to working with you