The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-30

I starting moaor is placed near the fly | wheel, being driven by teeth in it's rim. | On the dash of most present-day cars
 there is placed 8 little meter, which
 tells how the current generating system | Is functioning. It shows when the bat
 tery is being charged and when it is
 dischsrging, This little device is a great conveniencel but naturally it sometimes gets out ofAorder. When the engine Is
 dead and the lights are out, the hand | of the current meter should register zero, l if it doesn't something is wrong. It may be simply that the hand is bent, the mag net may be weak or the return spring 1 may not be strong enough. If the in strument continues to show discharge, when none is supposed to be going on, i look for a short circuit. Excessive vii
 brahon or a heavy jolt may throw this meter out of adjustment and unless there is method of adjusting the instrument, | it should be taken to the service sta l ton for an overhauling
 NOT COMPLICATED
 The mechanical portion of the starting
 and lighting system is fortunately not subject to much derangement The bear ings in the generator and starting motor wear out in time and the linkage or gear ing also becomes worn and needs re- placement. Any owner who is used to carrying out minor repairs can easily
 
 starting and lighting system. It is the electrical troubles that are difficult to handle. The prime source of failure in this system is the open circuit or the short circuit In the open circuit there 1 is no current flow at, all while in the latter the flow is in the wrong direc- | tion- The wiring system is the usual 1 location of these misguided circuits It 1 is only necessary for a wire to be stripped of it's insulation at point where l it may come in contact with metal to establish faulty circuit, that diverts current from the place where it is need ! ed. It is obvious then that the entire wiring system should be kept up to tha mark, frequent inspection being given it and breaks in the insulation being carefully repaired.
 WIRING SYSTEMS
 Two different systems of wiring are used in modern starting and lighting systems, the single and double wire sys- tems In the single wire system one wire is used to carry the current from the battery to the part needing it, while the metal of the car, the frame, is used to carry it back to the battery or generator and establish the circuit In the double wire system two wires are employed, one carrying the current out. and the other bringing it back. In the single wire sys- tenn fault in the insulation of the wire, which permits the latter to touch metal, immediately establishes a short circuit, depriving the part supplied of it's current In the double wire system shorts are not as common, because here two wires must make contact before this con- dition occurs. However, shorts and open circuits do occur even in the double wire I systems, so that frequent inspections of the wiring must be mada,
 1 One Of the fruitruI sources of starting and lighting system trouble is the ter1ni- nals Terminals that are dirty or I hob in the whole system Consequently, these parts, too must be carefully watched and given what attention they need from time to time
 TRACING TROUBLE
 1 In cases where the lamps do not burn
 with their accustomed brlliancy and the i starting motor seems to have lost it's 1 snap and acts as if it had nervous de- bility the source f-the trouble may con- l fently be looked for in the battery On
 the other hand, if one of the functions lof the systems is performed properly l while the other is off, if the lamps burn verys well but the starter Is unsatsfac- | tory, it may be assumed that the trouble l lies in the starting system or vice versa l In case it is the lamps that are at fault | the proper procedure is to begin at one |
 the other. Begin by examining the
 lamps and see that they have not been burned out Make sure that a bulb is a good one by inserting in it's place a bulb known to be functioning properly It may be that the base of the bulb is faulty. The contact point may be in poor condition, so that it is not making con- tact with the terminal. Next examine the connectors leading to the lamps. These may be loose, or the contact point may be corrected, so that they do not function properly. Next follow the wir- ling back to the switch, making sure that all the wires have insulation intact. or that the ground wire makes proper contact with the metal, if the system be of that kind.
 In systems where the wires center in a junction .box, short circuit may have developed therein. the connections may have come loose or may be so dirty that improper functioning is inevitable If fuses are installed in the line, give l tlsase due attention; one may have blown
 out or may be so dirty that it refuses to perform it's allotted work. In case sue