diagram of a car's electrical system

J

J Jensen

Guest
Hi

Does anyone know where I can find a good diagram of the basic (ignition)
electrical system of a car? (Preferably on the web). The manual and a
couple books that I have aren't quite enlightening, and I haven't been
able to find anything good with google...

Specifically I'd like to understand what all the basic components are
and how the interrelate. For example, what exactly does Ford's ignition
module do (other than need to be replaced) ?

thanks,
Jeff
 
J Jensen wrote:
Hi

Does anyone know where I can find a good diagram of the basic (ignition)
electrical system of a car? (Preferably on the web). The manual and a
couple books that I have aren't quite enlightening, and I haven't been
able to find anything good with google...

Specifically I'd like to understand what all the basic components are
and how the interrelate. For example, what exactly does Ford's ignition
module do (other than need to be replaced) ?

thanks,
Jeff
Click to expand...
That depends on how basic you need.
http://www.icarumba.com/cobrands/contentmodules/resourcecenter/encyclopedia/icar_resourcecenter_encyclopedia_ignition.asp
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=ignition-system.htm&url=http://www.autoshop-online.com/auto101/ignition.html

--
John Popelish
 
John Popelish <jpopelish@rica.net> wrote in message news:<40DF3969.26B3FEBD@rica.net>...
J Jensen wrote:

Hi

Does anyone know where I can find a good diagram of the basic (ignition)
electrical system of a car? (Preferably on the web). The manual and a
couple books that I have aren't quite enlightening, and I haven't been
able to find anything good with google...

Specifically I'd like to understand what all the basic components are
and how the interrelate. For example, what exactly does Ford's ignition
module do (other than need to be replaced) ?

thanks,
Jeff

That depends on how basic you need.
http://www.icarumba.com/cobrands/contentmodules/resourcecenter/encyclopedia/icar_resourcecenter_encyclopedia_ignition.asp
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=ignition-system.htm&url=http://www.autoshop-online.com/auto101/ignition.html
Click to expand...
Thanks, John.
Those references are pretty good, and maybe I can piece together what I need
from them. But ideally someone would have a picture of the starting circut,
the alternator circut and the ignition circut all in one diagram...

--Jeff
 
J Jensen wrote:
John Popelish <jpopelish@rica.net> wrote in message news:<40DF3969.26B3FEBD@rica.net>...
J Jensen wrote:

Hi

Does anyone know where I can find a good diagram of the basic (ignition)
electrical system of a car? (Preferably on the web). The manual and a
couple books that I have aren't quite enlightening, and I haven't been
able to find anything good with google...

Specifically I'd like to understand what all the basic components are
and how the interrelate. For example, what exactly does Ford's ignition
module do (other than need to be replaced) ?

thanks,
Jeff

That depends on how basic you need.
http://www.icarumba.com/cobrands/contentmodules/resourcecenter/encyclopedia/icar_resourcecenter_encyclopedia_ignition.asp
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=ignition-system.htm&url=http://www.autoshop-online.com/auto101/ignition.html

Thanks, John.
Those references are pretty good, and maybe I can piece together what I need
from them. But ideally someone would have a picture of the starting circut,
the alternator circut and the ignition circut all in one diagram...
Click to expand...
Almost every year, make and model has a different schematic.

Here is a primitive schematic or two (hit the next button:
http://www.tpub.com/content/neets/14176/css/14176_105.htm
It shows a DC generator instead of an alternator.

Here is a GM training schematic collection:
http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/gmprac.pdf
from the Practice section of:
http://www.autoshop101.com/autoshop31.html

You might want to look for a Chiltons or Haynes repair manual at the
local library that covers your vehicle.




--
John Popelish
 
John Popelish <jpopelish@rica.net> wrote:

Almost every year, make and model has a different schematic.

Here is a primitive schematic or two (hit the next button:
http://www.tpub.com/content/neets/14176/css/14176_105.htm
It shows a DC generator instead of an alternator.

Here is a GM training schematic collection:
http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/gmprac.pdf
from the Practice section of:
http://www.autoshop101.com/autoshop31.html

You might want to look for a Chiltons or Haynes repair manual at the
local library that covers your vehicle.
Click to expand...
I'll study that timely PDF myself, as I'm trying to get access to the
horn relay circuit on a '96 BMW 328 SE please? I want to add a
supplementary circuit.

I've located the appropriate terminals in the fuse/relay box under the
bonnet/hood. Essentially that was luck, as it was the first relay I
tried; yellow one at top left corner. None of them are identified,
either in the fuse box diagram or the service manual.

But that leaves me with the daunting task of getting wires inside.
Anyone here know a convenient 'hole' BTW?. That's why ideally I'd like
access inside the car, i.e. to the horn activation wire, and 12V and
0V too please.

I used to be able to add gadgets to my cars with relative ease a
couple of decades ago... ;-(

Jeff: Hope you don't mind my chipping in to your thread.

--
Terry Pinnell
Hobbyist, West Sussex, UK
 
"Terry Pinnell" <terrypinDELETE@THESEdial.pipex.com> wrote in message
news:es52e05kosgqksmig93ejmu84i5dfqkoc8@4ax.com...
John Popelish <jpopelish@rica.net> wrote:

Almost every year, make and model has a different schematic.

Here is a primitive schematic or two (hit the next button:
http://www.tpub.com/content/neets/14176/css/14176_105.htm
It shows a DC generator instead of an alternator.

Here is a GM training schematic collection:
http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/gmprac.pdf
from the Practice section of:
http://www.autoshop101.com/autoshop31.html

You might want to look for a Chiltons or Haynes repair manual at the
local library that covers your vehicle.

I'll study that timely PDF myself, as I'm trying to get access to the
horn relay circuit on a '96 BMW 328 SE please? I want to add a
supplementary circuit.

I've located the appropriate terminals in the fuse/relay box under the
bonnet/hood. Essentially that was luck, as it was the first relay I
tried; yellow one at top left corner. None of them are identified,
either in the fuse box diagram or the service manual.

But that leaves me with the daunting task of getting wires inside.
Anyone here know a convenient 'hole' BTW?. That's why ideally I'd like
access inside the car, i.e. to the horn activation wire, and 12V and
0V too please.

I used to be able to add gadgets to my cars with relative ease a
couple of decades ago... ;-(

Jeff: Hope you don't mind my chipping in to your thread.

--
Terry Pinnell
Hobbyist, West Sussex, UK
Click to expand...
Terry, no disrespect just a fun comment.
I think you are from the old Lucas school where you could put one fuse
between the 2 positions and everything would work.
I once rescued a lady way west of Mount Isa (Australia) by jumping the
starter relay of her Austin 1800 with a spanner. Told her to not stop
the engine till she was at a garage which was propably 200 miles away at
the time.
--
John G

Wot's Your Real Problem?
 
"John G" <Greentest@ozemail.com.au> wrote:


Terry, no disrespect just a fun comment.
I think you are from the old Lucas school where you could put one fuse
between the 2 positions and everything would work.
I once rescued a lady way west of Mount Isa (Australia) by jumping the
starter relay of her Austin 1800 with a spanner. Told her to not stop
the engine till she was at a garage which was propably 200 miles away at
the time.
Click to expand...
You're probably not far wide of the mark <g>.

BTW, Joseph Lucas (where my aunt worked for about 30 years) was a few
miles away from my childhood home in Erdington, Birmingham.

--
Terry Pinnell
Hobbyist, West Sussex, UK
 
...what exactly does Ford's ignition module do
(other than need to be replaced) ?
Jeff (J Jensen)

You might want to look for a Chiltons or Haynes repair manual at the
local library that covers your vehicle.
John Popelish
Click to expand...
I got the best wiring diagrams for my old American cars (mostly Fords)
from National Service Data (now Mitchell).

A good library will have all 3.
A great library (L.A. County) will have multiple copies of all 3.
 
John Popelish <jpopelish@rica.net> wrote in message news:<40E0B03D.9B61DA15@rica.net>...
Almost every year, make and model has a different schematic.

Here is a primitive schematic or two (hit the next button:
http://www.tpub.com/content/neets/14176/css/14176_105.htm
It shows a DC generator instead of an alternator.
Click to expand...
thanks again, John. Yes, I think this is the best picture I've
seen so far ( I clicked "next" 2 times)



Here is a GM training schematic collection:
http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/gmprac.pdf
from the Practice section of:
http://www.autoshop101.com/autoshop31.html

You might want to look for a Chiltons or Haynes repair manual at the
local library that covers your vehicle.
Click to expand...
Yes, I have one of these (Haynes, I think). It is pretty good for actually
trying to replace something, but the circut diagrams are way too detailed
for the kind of overview that I wanted.

--Jeff
 
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