Starter does not crank engine
- Low battery
- Loose or corroded battery terminals
- Loose or corroded starter electrical contacts
- Break in solenoid wiring
- Faulty ignition/starter switch
- Faulty solenoid
- Faulty starter
Starter turns engine over slowly
- The battery is empty or defective
- Loose or corroded battery terminals
- Loose or corroded starter electrical contacts
- Internal starter fault
The starter works but does not crank the engine
- Incorrectly adjusted lever that moves the starter gear
- Damaged starter gear or flywheel ring gear
Starter is noisy or rough
- Loose starter mounting bolts
- Worn or damaged starter gear teeth or flywheel ring gear
Generator not holding a charge
- Loose or corroded battery terminals
- Low electrolyte level in the battery
- The generator does not charge the battery
- Alternator drive belt slipping or damaged
- Battery loses charge due to short circuit (isolate the battery and check if it will hold a charge)
- Internal battery fault
- Faulty alternator or voltage regulator
The low battery warning light is on when the engine is running
- Alternator drive belt slipping or damaged
- Faulty alternator or voltage regulator
The low battery warning light does not come on when the ignition is turned on
- Bulb burnt out
- Damaged lamp socket or circuit board
- A break in the wiring
- Faulty alternator or voltage regulator
Fuel gauge or coolant temperature gauge does not read
- A break in the wiring
- Blown fuse No. 4 (other circuits protected by this fuse do not work either)
- The pointer itself or its sensor is faulty (ground the sensor wires with the ignition on - if the pointer arrow rises to the maximum, then the sensor is faulty, if the pointer still does not give readings, the pointer is faulty or there is a break in the wiring)
Fuel gauge or coolant temperature gauge permanently at maximum
- The wire got into "earth"
- Faulty sensor
Outside lights won't turn on
- Bulb burnt out (lamps)
- Blown fuse (check other circuits protected by this fuse)
- A break in the wiring
- The ground wire has come off or its contact is corroded
- Faulty combined light switch
Outside lights are very dim
- Low battery
- The ground wire has come off or its contact is corroded
- Wrong size bulbs installed
- Lamps began to work poorly over time
- Reflectors/light glass dirty
Turn indicators not working
- Bulb burnt out (pointer not working on one side only)
- Faulty, disconnected or poorly grounded light breaker (pointers not working on both sides)
- Faulty turn signal switch
One of the components of the electrical system does not work
- Blown fuse (check other circuits protected by this fuse)
- A break in the wiring
- Multi-pin connector disconnected or one of its pins corroded
- Faulty switch
- Break in ground wire
For troubleshooting the windshield wiper and horn, see respectively section 27 and section 30.