We’ve all heard the stories – back in the day – that if your car wouldn’t start, all you needed to do was clean the contact points and away she went! So, it leaves us wondering; how have we come so far from that today? And, given that one of the most used and relied upon items in a modern toolbox is now a diagnostic computer, why are modern car electrics so complicated?
Here’s the simple answer: because we now expect so much more from them (cars).
It’s similar to mobile phones. Twenty years ago, we were happy just being able to make a call without having a wire attached. Nowadays, we expect them to do everything a modern laptop will do, such as stream 4K video, play graphic-intensive games, video chat, and quickly access everything on the internet.
Just in the same way, cars started off being a much more efficient way to travel than, by comparison, a horse and carriage. However, over time, our expectations slowly grew. We wanted to listen to the radio then we wanted to keep cool with air conditioning, and now for some, it’s a requirement to even have a separate TV screen for each passenger! All the while using less fuel but having more power under our right foot.
The only way to accomplish all these things and still keep cars relatively compact was to install more computers and more wiring – which is why you will need to keep handy the number of a reliable auto electrician in Perth in your wallet or purse.
So how do modern car electrics work?
It’s much like an office, where each member of staff works on their own project, on their individual computer but can easily send and receive information between other staff when needed. In the same way, a car can have up to 30 different computers onboard which each work independently and share this necessary information.
For example, let’s look at a simple concept of determining a vehicles speed. It starts with sensors located on each of the four wheels to send a signal of how quickly the wheels are turning. This is processed by the ABS (anti-lock braking system) module then uses this to determine if the tyres lose traction. It also transmits it on the car’s network, sharing this information with other modules.
Other modules include the:
- Instrument cluster (to tell the driver the cars speed)
- SRS (to know when and how to deploy airbags
- Radio (to increase volume to compensate for increased road noise)
- Height control (to lower the ride height to improve aerodynamics)
- Body control (lock doors for anti-hijacking)
So, we can see how a seemingly simple function can lead to such complexity. It also reminds us of the comforts that we may take for granted in modern cars.
The problem arises when any of these systems fail. If this happens, you will need a reliable, mobile auto electrician in Perth Hills/ Midland to do some electrical car diagnostic and repair work.
At Edge Auto Electrics in Midland, we’re armed with the proper knowledge, resources, and diagnostic equipment to take care of your complex cars electrical faults and get you back on the road. Being a mobile auto electrics company, we save you the hassle by turning up at your doorstep to fix any car electrics issue.
Get it touch today on or send us an email here to learn more about our auto electricals services in Midland and surrounding areas.
