General information
The electrical system of the engine consists mainly of starting and charging systems. Due to the fact that the functions of these devices are closely related to the engine, they are described separately from other electrical devices in the car, such as lights, dashboard, etc. (which are described in chapter 12). A description of the ignition system is given in part B of this chapter.
The car's electrical system is 12-volt, with a 'negative' on the case.
The battery does not require frequent maintenance; charged by an alternator with a rectifier, the alternator is driven by a V-belt from the front crankshaft pulley.
Engine starter with pre-engagement, which is carried out using a built-in electromagnetic traction relay. When starting, the traction relay engages the starter drive gear with the flywheel ring gear before the starter is energized. Once the engine has started, the freewheel prevents the starter rotor from turning from the engine until the pinion gear disengages from the flywheel.
Cautions
More details about the device and maintenance of various systems will be discussed in the relevant sections of this chapter. Although the book describes some repair procedures, the usual way to repair is to replace the failed item. The owner, who does not want to limit himself to a simple replacement of elements, is recommended to purchase a book "Automobile Electrical & Electronic Systems Manual" ("Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Systems Guide") Haynes Publishing.
When working on the electrical system of the engine, care must be taken not to damage the semiconductors (diodes and transistors) and don't hurt yourself. In addition to the precautions listed in section "Safety first!", observe the following when working on the electrical system:
Always remove rings, watches, etc. before working on the electrical system. Even with the battery disconnected, a discharge of some kind of capacitor may occur through the metal object you have to ground. This can cause shock or severe burns.
Do not reverse the battery terminals: components such as the alternator, electronic circuits, and other items that contain semiconductor devices can be seriously damaged.
If the engine is started from an external battery using "cigarette lighter", need to connect batteries "plus to plus and "minus to minus" (see "Start from an external battery"). You also need to connect to the battery and an external charger.