It can be very difficult to identify a specific issue in modern vehicles. Your new ride contains a lot more advanced tech than ever before and the average car contains about 30,000 parts that all can cause malfunctions or issues. 

With so many issues to look out for, technicians often have their hands full with fault finding in a vehicle that is showing conspicuous symptoms. 

In this guide, we are going to take a look at a couple of fun facts about fault finding in vehicles that might offer you some insight into your own ride.

The 5 Most Common Electrical Faults 

Modern vehicles can experience all sorts of electrical issues. The five most common electrical issues with vehicles are the following:

• A failing alternator
• A dead battery
• Spark plug issues
• Blown fuses
• Worn-down battery cables

But just because these are the most common electrical issues in vehicles, doesn’t mean that your vehicle is struggling with this same problem. The electrical system in your car is very complex and can feature all sorts of issues.

Fault Finding Is Done In Five Steps

Mechanics and technicians use five steps to determine issues with vehicles. Here is a quick look at the main steps used for identifying problems.

• Step 1. Observe the symptoms of the car. Most vehicle issues are pretty obvious to an experienced mechanic.
• Step 2. Define the problem area by ruling out all parts or circuitry that are operational until you are only left with the parts that are most likely faulty.
• Step 3. Identify possible causes by listing every fault that could possibly cause a certain problem. 
• Step 4. Determine the most probable cause by checking parts that are most likely to fail or cause issues.
• Step 5. Test the suspected issue by using the right fault-finding equipment and do the needed repairs.

Diagnostic Testing Isn’t Always As Easy As It Looks

Diagnostic testing tools are very handy for identifying electrical issues in vehicles. But these tools are not always as easy to use as you might think. Diagnostic testing equipment won’t tell you the exact problem of the car. Instead, it indicates fault codes that can navigate you closer to the problem area. Here is a quick look at some of the codes:

• P codes – Powertrain
• C codes – Chassis
• B codes – Body
• U codes – Network communication 

Even experienced mechanics can have a tough time identifying specific faults in vehicles based on the codes given during diagnostic testing. This is exactly why it is so important not to try to do your own fault finding with a simple home diagnostic tool.

There Are Likely Over 100 Miles Of Code On Your Vehicle’s Computer

Every modern car comes with a little computer box that stores important data in coded information. It is estimated that the internal computer of an average car has over 100 miles of code. That is a lot of code to scan through when doing diagnostic testing.

Your Car Has A Lot Of Parts

Vehicles are made from a great many small parts that all contribute to a huge system. The average car contains over 30,000 parts. These parts include everything from a small bolt to the body frame of your car. And every one of these parts can become worn out or damaged over time. 

Fault finding is a complex task that should be left to professional mechanics. If you experience strange noises, issues, or smells in your car then the best thing you can do is get your car checked by Kendon Auto Electrical and Mechanical. These professionals are great at identifying car issues and are sure to get a good solution no matter what type of vehicle you might have.