Automotive electrical is one of the most over looked systems in any car. It’s easy to think about how to make power, but the truth is that electrical is the most important aspect of a classic car to an all out racecar, where consistency and all out high performance is desired.
Technology has grown with fuel injection, ignition systems, data loggers and all the things that make cars more user friendly. This technology requires more experienced and qualified automotive electricians. In fact, it’s vital to the success of any race team. Let’s face it, you can never win a race or even cruise around town if your car does not start.
The biggest problem that I have found with many streetcars are 20-30 year old wiring. The wiring is spliced and chopped up which, causes many problems. Even the most well maintained harnesses, in most cases, the wiring is not up to the task to some of the newer technology on the market. And let’s face it, why use old inadequate fuses, relays, and wiring that could potentially cause drivability problems or fire in a totally restored classic car. Glass fuses are not used anymore for a really good reason. Over time glass fuses can get contaminated and the amp rating can rise, causing a potentially dangerous operating condition.
Racecars can have high rpm interference in the form of electro magnetic interference or EMI, which causes misfiring within ignition systems. Misleading data logger runs can cause you to tune around something that doesn’t exist. It can be a real headache. There has been a lot of debate on the causes of EMI. My personal belief is that for me anything can cause interference and must be avoided with proper connections and routing of sensitive components. It can be accomplished with proper planning along with proper wiring and techniques. With the proper tooling EMI as well as RFI (radio frequency interference), usually caused by wiring running to a motor, ignition coil can be found, diagnosed, and cured before it starts to cause a problem.
Wizz kid
