What Causes Sudden Car Electrical Failure?

Has your car’s electrical system ever inexplicably shut down, only to restart on its own? This can be frustrating to diagnose because this can be due to a number of causes. This is especially the case with VW and Audi cars, which have a more sophisticated ECU than their American-made counterparts. We’ll outline the common causes and symptoms of sudden car electrical failure. The Main Culprits Modern cars receive electrical power from the battery and alternator. The battery starts the engine, runs additional accessories when the engine is off, and powers the voltage regulator. The alternator creates electricity to power everything else, such as the headlights, when the engine is on. So, what happens when everything—from the lights to the engine itself—suddenly go dead before starting up again? To pinpoint the cause, pop open the hood and examine the battery connection. Are either the positive or negative connections loose? Do the terminals have a load of corrosion buildup? If your car has a fusible link, then you should inspect that as well. The Digital Display A faulty digital display is another sign of a compromised car electrical system. Several owners of Audi and VW models have noticed the digital display lose pixels and fade in and out. The brightness may also fluctuate or flash on and off. At other times, the display just completely goes out. A technician will need to reprogram the dashboard light system. This likely involves the car ECU, so this is beyond the scope of DIY capabilities. We’ll Fix any Car Electrical Failure Issues Leave it to Buttera Motors to diagnose faulty electrical problems with your car. Even with the sophisticated engineering of German cars, most modern models can still go haywire at times. Our story spans many years, and we are well versed in the diagnosis of German-made automobiles, including diagnosing car electrical failures. Car Electrical Failure Diagnosis and Repairs VW and Audi service in Bothell, Bellevue, Kirkland, Kenmore, Redmond & WoodinvilleHas your car’s electrical system ever inexplicably shut down, only to restart on its own? This can be frustrating to diagnose because this can be due to a number of causes. This is especially the case with VW and Audi cars, which have a more sophisticated ECU than their American-made counterparts. We’ll outline the common causes and symptoms of sudden car electrical failure.

The Main Culprits

Modern cars receive electrical power from the battery and alternator. The battery starts the engine, runs additional accessories when the engine is off, and powers the voltage regulator. The alternator creates electricity to power everything else, such as the headlights, when the engine is on.

So, what happens when everything—from the lights to the engine itself—suddenly go dead before starting up again?

To pinpoint the cause, pop open the hood and examine the battery connection. Are either the positive or negative connections loose? Do the terminals have a load of corrosion buildup? If your car has a fusible link, then you should inspect that as well.

The Digital Display

A faulty digital display is another sign of a compromised car electrical system. Several owners of Audi and VW models have noticed the digital display lose pixels and fade in and out. The brightness may also fluctuate or flash on and off. At other times, the display just completely goes out. A technician will need to reprogram the dashboard light system. This likely involves the car ECU, so this is beyond the scope of DIY capabilities.

We’ll Fix any Car Electrical Failure Issues

Leave it to Buttera Motors to diagnose faulty electrical problems with your car. Even with the sophisticated engineering of German cars, most modern models can still go haywire at times. Our story spans many years, and we are well versed in the diagnosis of German-made automobiles, including diagnosing car electrical failures.

Car Electrical Failure Diagnosis and Repairs

VW and Audi service in Bothell, Bellevue, Kirkland, Kenmore, Redmond & Woodinville