February 2022

Garages should be prepared for an influx of vehicles with struggling batteries coming through their doors over the next few weeks ” FEBRUARY 2022 AFTERMARKET 41 may be wrongly diagnosed as having reached the end of its lifespan, after a non-start following a long period of sitting idle. But in fact, the true cause may be undiagnosed internal faults that prevented the vehicle from fully shutting down, meaning the new battery would run flat again within just a few days. Conversely, a battery’s primary response to running flat is to protect a vehicle’s essential functions, meaning it can begin to cut out non-essential power- draining components such as radio, air con and electric windows to save energy. It’s easy to mistake these as symptoms of an electrical fault or a blown fuse, overlooking the root cause of a flagging battery.” On fitment, Colin said: “We recommend garages test batteries as standard whenever any vehicle is brought in for servicing and repair. He added: “As well as building trust and loyalty, this can also act as a big revenue driver for garages. Familiarity with solutions such as the Bosch KTS560 software can help technicians to pinpoint the true cause of any battery faults quickly and accurately, allowing them to provide a first-time fix, every time.” For more information, visit https://omnipart.eurocarparts.com Burn out, not fade away The battery is not the end of the story though, as Nick Hood, UK Sales Manager at Autoelectro, explains some of the ways a starter motor, fitted to a Ford Fiesta MK8 (2017-), can burn out. Excessive cranking “Excessive cranking will run down the battery,” said Nick, “and the technician is likely to hear the engine turn over slower than normal. The effect of prolonged cranking causes the starter motor to burn out due to low speed/high current. “Autoelectro advises technicians to check for a loose or corroded connection and that there is no resistance in the main feed lead from the battery, check the earth points for signs of corrosion and ensure good contact from battery to chassis and chassis to engine block. What’s more, they should also check the battery condition by fully charging the battery, which should show 12.6V or above, before performing a load test with the correct equipment. The battery should maintain 9.6V for at least 15 seconds. Ongoing engine starting issues, such as leaking fuel injectors, faulty coil pack, fouled spark plugs and vapour lock can put excess strain on the starter motor and, if not resolved, can lead to a complete failure of the starter motor.” Running on “The starter will continue to run or stay in mesh while the engine is running,” continued Nick, which will, generally, cause a whining noise and, if prolonged, a burning smell. This can be seen on a starter motor as a bluish discoloration of the armature shaft and pinion. The usual cause for this is a sticky ignition switch or relay sending a constant feed to the starter motor. This must be resolved before running the vehicle, as it will cause permanent damage and, ultimately, failure of the starter motor.” Fitting issues “Certain starter motors come with locating dowels and guides,” concluded Nick, “which should always be used when fitting a new unit. Not using dowels or guides may mean the unit won’t sit flush onto the bell housing, causing meshing issues and, ultimately, permanent damage to the starter and/or the flywheel.” For more information, visit www.autoelectro.co.uk