How To Repair Electrical Connectors In Your Car
You may have heard about the importance of car maintenance, but did you know that it is equally important to know how to repair electrical connectors? If you drive a car or truck, then it is very likely that you use the electrical system every day. That means you need to be aware of how to repair electrical connectors in your car.
Video Tutorial – Broken Electrical Connector Repair At Home Easy and Quick
It is surprising how many people don’t even know how to do it properly! In fact, there are so many different types of electrical connectors in today’s cars that it is difficult for even an experienced mechanic to know exactly where to look when he is trying to make repairs.
And, it gets worse: Many times, you can’t even see an electrical connector that needs to be repaired because it is hidden inside the car under the carpet or behind a part of the dashboard. Don’t let this happen to you. The best way to avoid having to repair an electrical connector yourself is to learn how to do it properly the first time. This will save you a lot of time and heartburn in the long run.
So, in this post, I am going to discuss some of the most common electrical connectors and show you where they are located in your car. Then, I am going to give you some tips on how to identify them and how to go about repairing them when they need to be fixed.
Here are the three types of electrical connectors you will encounter the most:
● Terminal Connector: These connectors look like a little square or rectangular box with two round prongs sticking out of each side. They are used to connect the positive terminal of one wire to the negative terminal of another wire. You can find these connectors on the wires that run from the battery to the rest of the electrical system. If you have an older car or truck, you may have to remove a few floor mats in order to get to these connectors. If that’s the case, just give me a call and I’ll tell you exactly where they are so you won’t have to take the car in for repairs.
● Fuse Connector: This type of connector is very similar to a terminal connector, but it is designed to carry much higher current. It looks like a little square or rectangular box with two round prongs sticking out of each side and a small amount of insulation around the outside. Fuse connectors are used to protect other parts of the electrical system from being damaged by a short circuit caused by too much current flowing through one of the wires. You can find fuse connectors on the wires that run from the battery to the rest of the electrical system. If you have an older car or truck, you may have to remove a few floor mats in order to get to these connectors. If that’s the case, just give me a call and I’ll tell you exactly where they are so you won’t have to take the car in for repairs.
● Wire Connector: These connectors look like a little round, metal box with two round prongs sticking out of each side. Wires with wire connectors attached go from one part of the electrical system to another. If one of your wires has been accidentally cut, then it is probably because of a wire connector. You can find wire connectors on the wires that connect all the different parts of the electrical system together. If you have an older car or truck, you may have to remove a few floor mats in order to get to these connectors. If that’s the case, just give me a call and I’ll tell you exactly where they are so you won’t have to take the car in for repairs.
Now, let’s discuss how to identify electrical connectors when you are trying to repair them. First, always start by identifying the terminal connector.
These connectors are the easiest to identify because they have two round prongs sticking out of each side. The black wire goes to the negative terminal of the connector and the red wire goes to the positive terminal of the connector.
Next, identify the fuse connector. These connectors are very similar to terminal connectors, but they are designed to carry much higher current. They look like a little square or rectangular box with two round prongs sticking out of each side and a small amount of insulation around the outside. The black wire goes to the negative terminal of the connector and the red wire goes to the positive terminal.
Next, find the fuse that is “blown”. This is the one you want to use in your project. It should be a thin, flat, gray metal rectangle about the size of your thumb nail. When you pull it off, you’ll see a tiny bit of black insulation on one end that has been melted off. That’s the end that will be connected to the black wire from the fuse box. Next, hold the blown fuse up to the connector on the wire you are using.
You will see that the two ends perfectly align with each other. The other end of the blown fuse should now be inserted into the little hole in the side of the connector. Then, push down firmly on the top of the fuse until it clicks into place. Your fuse is now replaced and ready for service. Remember, when you blow a fuse, it is removed from service and a short circuit occurs where the two wires from the fuse were touching. This allows electricity to “flow” where it can do no good.