Automotive Mechanics 3

Luis E. Aulestia V.

UNIT 1
TECHNICAL WORDS BARE: not covered by anything. BUILD UP: increase. FAULT: a weakness or broken part. GROUND: the surface of the Earth, the floor of a room, or a piece of land especially used for a particular purpose. HORN: a device on a vehicle that is used to make a loud noise as a warning or signal to other people. LOAD: the amount of weight carried, especially by a vehicle, a structure such as a bridge, or an animal. MOISTURE: a liquid such as water in the form of very small drops, either in the air, or on a surface, especially a cold one. SHORT: in an electrical system is a wrong electrical connection which causes the current to flow in the wrong direction, often having the effect of stopping the power supply. VOCABULARY Look up the following words in your dictionary. Also Amount At all ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________

Be able to ________________________________ Branch Dirt ________________________________ ________________________________

Automotive Mechanics 3

Luis E. Aulestia V.

Frame Least Low Path

________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________

Remaining ________________________________ Should ________________________________

To attempt ________________________________ To bind To bypass ________________________________ ________________________________

To decrease________________________________ To loose ________________________________

To provide ________________________________ To recognize_______________________________ To turn Wanted Within ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________

Automotive Mechanics 3

Luis E. Aulestia V.

PRESENTATION

WIRING
ELECTRICAL SYMBOLS Standard electrical symbols are used in automotive wiring diagram. See fig. To work on automotive electrical circuits, you should be able to recognize these symbols.

SHORTS.- High current is caused by a decrease in resistance. This decrease is typically the result of a short. A short is best defined as an additional and unwanted path through another circuit or ground. Most shorts create an extremely low resistance parallel branch. See fig.

The circuit on the left is a normal operating circuit. The circuit on the right is the same circuit with a low resistance short to ground before the load. Notice the current change caused by the short Low resistance and high current can also be caused by a slow turning motor. Motors attempting to move a heavier than normal load or an immovable object (such as a binding window), will rotate very slowly or not at all and will draw excessive amounts of current. 3

Automotive Mechanics 3

Luis E. Aulestia V.

A short can connect two or more circuits together causing additional parallel legs and uncontrolled operation of components. An example of a possible result from a wire-to-wire short would be the horn blowing each time the brake pedal was depressed. This could be caused by a wire-to-wire short between the horn and brake light circuits. Shorts are one of the three common types of electrical problems. OPENS.- Another common electrical fault is the open. An open causes an incomplete circuit and can result from a broken or burnt wire, loose connection, or a faulty component. If a circuit is open, there will be no current flow and the component will not operate. If there is an open in one leg of a parallel circuit, the remaining part of that circuit will operate normally. Excessive resistance at a connector, internally in a component, or within a wire is also a common electrical problem. High resistance will cause low current flow and the component will not be able to operate normally, if at all. Circuits are controlled by switches which open and close a circuit and by variable resistors which control the amount of current flow in the circuit. These switches and controls can be manually operated or controlled by electricity and magnetism. GROUNDS.- A grounded circuit is similar to a short, since a grounded circuit also bypasses part of the normal circuit. However, in a grounded circuit the current flows directly to ground. This circuit malfunction may be caused by a bare wire touching ground or apart of the circuit within the load device touching the frame or housing of the load device. A grounded circuit may also be caused by deposits of moisture, dirt, or oil built up around connections or terminals. These deposits sometimes can provide a path for current flow to ground. Remember, current flow follows the path of least resistance.

Example of a Grounded Circuit in a Parallel Circuit

Automotive Mechanics 3

Luis E. Aulestia V.

EXERCISES Translate the following sentences. A fusible link is a short length of wire that is four sizes smaller in conductor diameter gauge than the wires in the circuit it is protecting. . There are two major types of fuses utilized in the automotive industry. . Current flowing through a conductor causes a magnetic field to form around the conductor. . The movement of electrons causes the atoms of some materials to align and set up magnetic lines of flux. . Magnetism is a form of energy that is caused by the movement of electrons moving in a conductor. . This protects wiring, components, and connectors from heat damage. . These particles styles of fuses may look different but work identically. . Both types of fuses open when current in the circuit they are protecting exceeds the maximum current rating of the fuse. . 5

Automotive Mechanics 3

Luis E. Aulestia V.

Automotive components and wiring are overload protected by circuit breakers, fusible links, and fuses. . An overload occurs when more current flows through a component and its wiring than they are designed to carry. . One contact is stationary and the other contact is on the end of a bimetallic strip. . A circuit breaker consists of two contacts which are normally closed. . As soon as this happens, current in the circuit stops flowing allowing the strip to cool down. . In some automotive circuits a fuse or fusible link is undesirable because of access difficulties and the unavailability. . These overloads can burn insulation, cause fires, and destroy wire harness. . If an overload occurs, the fusible link will melt and break the circuit before the rest of the circuit can be damaged. .