Got yourself a new car, let’s say in the last 5 years? Well, let us ask you an honest question: when you’ve just bought your new car, did you believe that your car isn’t going to give you any problems, knowing that it’s brand new? Sorry to break it to you, but…choosing a brand new car doesn’t guarantee you a worry-free driving life. Because at the same time, buying a second-hand or used car doesn’t always mean you’ll be stressed out with lots of car electrical problems.

That’s what we have learned in the decades that we have been in the auto parts selling, used car buying, and car wrecking business. No two cars will ever be the same. If you decide to buy a brand new Toyota Hilux just because your neighbor is just ecstatic about its features or performance, then don’t expect that you’ll experience the exact same thing. Yes, you’ll get the exact features, of course. But everything else will differ because the performance and life of a car depend mainly on two things: your driving habits and how you maintain it.

Just to be concrete on this, let your expert auto parts recyclers and car parts providers give you the perfect example. Did you know that even new cars experience electrical problems? Yes, unfortunately, they do. Drivers/owners who we can just say we’re a bit negligent on car maintenance just because they think their cars are still very new experiences.

Here are just 6 of the most common new car electrical problems:

1. Faulty Battery

The battery is indeed one of the most important components of a car, as you know, the electrical power your vehicle needs to operate comes from it. Apparently, it seems that assuming your new car has zero battery problems is turning out to be a mistake. Because out of all the possible auto electrical problems, having a faulty battery is probably the most common of them. Having a battery problem can mean having difficulty in starting, having dim to almost no lights, or worst, when nothing ever happens when you try to use your vehicle. Usually, the perfect indicator of a dead battery is when your headlights and interior lights are not working properly anymore. On the lighter side, dead battery problems are probably the easiest to solve. You can just have it replaced or even jump-start it from a mate’s car.

2. Loose Wires & Broken Fuses

If batteries are the most frequent issue, the electrical wiring and fuses in your new automobile are about to fail first. A blown fuse or disconnected wire is most likely to blame if you’re having trouble starting, your lights are intermittently bright, or simply one of the control buttons on your dash isn’t functioning properly. Check your main fuse box if you encounter one or more of these circumstances. Even if you believe there is nothing wrong, you should ask your mechanic for assistance in checking for disconnected or loose wiring.

3. Ignition Issues

When you turn your key to start your vehicle and you hear clicks or minimal noises, it’s most probably a problem with your battery. On the other hand, if you try everything but still nothing happens, you hear and feel nothing with your car, then you can now turn your attention to the ignition system. Especially in the case of more modern cars that no longer need keys to start (push to start button). More often than not, it’s harder to determine if it’s your battery or ignition system that’s causing the problem. So if you’re experiencing this with your new car, there’s honestly no easy or DIY way to find out. Your best option is to take the vehicle to your trusted car repair shop and have it diagnosed by an expert.

4. Bad Alternator

It’s the alternator’s duty to charge the vehicle’s battery whenever it is running. In addition, it is also the one responsible for making sure that the power is evenly and properly distributed from your engine to the other parts of your car like the lights and audio system. Good news is, it’s a bit easier to determine if there’s an issue with your alternator. When you see your dashboard lights flicker and dim while you’re running on the road, it could be a clear sign of a damaged alternator, or even a part of your alternator like its belt.

5. Electrical Short

If there’s anything that you wouldn’t want to happen to your new car’s electrical system, that’s to experience a short. You don’t want your precious car to experience that because it could actually lead to a whole new set of problems – like draining your battery or even having the need to replace your whole electrical wiring system. Yes, talk about hassle. 

Furthermore, an electrical short is also one of the hardest problems to notice and verify. You will need to look for the exact circuit that caused the short. And once you become successful with that (which is very unlikely for non-professional mechanics like us), that’s the only time when you can fix the circuit where the short is located. Good thing, the mechanic just needs to replace that part/circuit.

6. Loose Spark Plugs

Last but not least, expecting to have spark plug problems with a technically new car isn’t really common. Because let’s face it. No one really buys a new car and then expects small parts, like the spark plugs, to cause any problem for at least 3 years, right?

But honestly, contrary to common belief, if you have spark plug issues, it is actually an electrical problem rather than a standard mechanical headache. Loose, broken, or even old spark plugs can actually produce more serious car issues just like having an engine that’s not firing properly. So once you feel that your car is slowly losing power or suddenly lurching forward after you shift gears, then you’d need to check on your spark plugs, regardless of how young or old you think your car is. 

Just like other car issues, diagnosing early is the best way to handle electrical problems. Because no matter how long ago or recently you’ve just bought your car, all those problems will definitely lead to bigger catastrophes once left unnoticed and neglected. The only best advice we can give you is– regardless if your car is old, brand new, or a recently bought second-hand one, you should practice consistent and religious maintenance. That includes regular checkups, even if you think there’s nothing wrong.