• Checking your car's electrical system is essential.dead battery image by Katrina Miller from Fotolia.com
  
  The electrical system is the most important component of your car. It is the part that makes it run, resulting in your ability to travel. Several factors must be in place for it to work. For example, your voltage must be at a level that will enable your battery, among other electrical components, to function. Also, your electrical system must have a continuous flow of current. Additionally, you must be mindful of the environment's effect on your electrical system.
  
  

Voltage Issues

• According to the AA1Car website, all electrical systems require sufficient voltage to operate. Depending on the vehicle and its electrical components, there is a voltage threshold below which your car or truck will not function, or will run poorly. That is why it's paramount to use a voltmeter to test your electrical system, hooking it up to a certain loading point, such as a battery, a solenoid or blower motor. If your voltage is low, check your fuses. If your fuse box has a blown fuse, replace the fuse, but only with one that is rated for the same number of amps as the one you removed.
  
  

Continuity Issues

• As the AA1Car website says, an electrical circuit must be complete and uninterrupted to function properly. Even if you have excellent voltage, it will be of no help if the current does not have a complete ground to the battery. According to the website, the location of this path depends on the material that makes up the body. In metal-bodied cars, this path is the body itself, and in plastic-bodied ones, a separate ground wire is necessary to connect the electrical load to the chassis, or frame, of the vehicle.
  
  

The Environment

• According to the AA1Car website, environmental factors such as weather can affect electrical systems. Road splash, or water leaking under the windshield due to rain, can seep into an electrical system and wreak havoc by shorting out a circuit.
  
  

Connection Quality

• A faulty ground connection can factor into electrical system problems. According to the AA1Car website, a faulty connection can be caused by high resistance within the electrical system. Measure the level of resistance by the use of an ohmmeter, which, according to the website, is the best instrument you can use to measure the amount of resistance between any two test points.
  
  In addition, you should eye the wiring system. With your car's transmission in "park" for safety reasons, check for signs of rust or corrosion. If it exists, use a scraper to gently scrape any corrosion or rust off the wires. Clean the wires with a damp rag.