Diagnostics & faults in car electronics
A warning light that stays on, a battery that keeps dying or a function that cuts out every now and then: CarTech Inbouw also deals with faults in your car's electronics. We find out where the problem lies, from fault code to broken wire, so it can be fixed without guesswork. When you get in touch, tell us as precisely as you can when the fault happens and whether anything has been changed or installed on the car recently.
Car electronics diagnostics
If a warning light comes on or your car shows an error message, a diagnosis is the place to start. We read the fault codes from the control units and then look into what lies behind them, because a code tells you where a problem shows up, not always what has failed. A proper diagnosis saves you from replacing parts on a hunch.
Tracing and fixing electrical faults
Windows that no longer go up, lights that flicker, a heater fan that only works on one setting or central locking with a mind of its own: the cause could be a switch, a motor, a connector or the wiring. We work through the circuit step by step to find it, so only the part that has failed needs fixing. Faults that only happen now and then are often down to a loose connector or a wire that loses contact when it moves or gets damp.
CAN bus diagnostics & repair
The control units in your car constantly exchange data over the CAN bus. When that communication is disrupted or drops out, you often see several warning lights at once, functions failing that seem to have nothing to do with each other, or a car that will not start. We find out which part of the network is causing the fault, whether that is a damaged wire, moisture in a connector, a faulty module or equipment wired into the bus incorrectly, and repair it.
Wiring harness repair
Bundles of wires run through the whole car, and over the years they can get damaged: by martens chewing on them, by moisture and corrosion, or by wires breaking where they flex all the time, such as in the rubber sleeve between the body and a door or the tailgate. The result is a function that drops out, or one that only works when you hold the door at a certain angle. We trace the damaged wires and repair them.
Power, ground, fuse and relay faults
Every electrical component needs a power supply and a good ground connection to carry the current back. A corroded ground point can cause dimming lights or several systems misbehaving at the same time. A fuse that keeps blowing points to a short circuit or an overload, and a relay that sticks or stops switching can leave the radiator fan running or keep the car from starting. We find out why a fuse blows or a relay fails, because a new fuse only treats the symptom.
Battery drain
Does your battery keep dying after the car has been parked for a while, even though the battery itself is fine? Then something is probably still drawing current after you lock the car: a control unit that does not go into sleep mode, a relay that sticks, or aftermarket equipment wired to the wrong power supply. We measure how much current the car draws at rest and track down the circuit that is draining the battery.
Starting and charging problems
Do you only hear a click when you try to start, does the engine crank slowly, does the battery light come on while driving, or does start-stop no longer kick in? It could be the battery, but it could just as well be the starter motor, the alternator or the cables and connections in between. We find out which part is causing the trouble, because a new battery will not fix a faulty alternator.
Faults after an earlier installation
Has a radio, dashcam, towbar or other equipment been installed, and has the car been acting up ever since? Warning lights, a battery that drains or steering wheel controls that no longer work are often caused by tapping into the wrong wire or a connection that was not made properly. We work out what was changed and either connect it properly or restore the original setup, even if we did not install the equipment ourselves.