‘If my car needs electrical work, where should I go?’

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My 2003 Honda Accord is well maintained and is serviced on schedule always by the same mechanic. Years back, the lights for the temperature and radio stations went out. There was a warranty extension because the audio unit display could become dark, but I missed the coverage period. My mechanic would not fix the problem and the Honda dealer also refused to do electrical work. The easy solution was to leave the display dark. Late last year, the fan for heater/defroster stopped. My mechanic put in a new fan resistor. Then last week, when only high speed for the fan would work, he put in another resistor. My mechanic thinks there is an electrical problem and said he will not do any more work if there is another problem. My question to you is, if this does happen again, where do I turn? Do I need a place that specializes in electrical work? My mechanic said he doesn’t know of such a place. I don’t want to buy a new car, because overall this one is in good condition and suits my needs at this time. What should I do?

A: To answer your last question first, there are shops that specialize in electrical work, although most good shops should be able to handle this type of problem. To fix electrical issues requires a combination of time, experience, and your money. The heater fan resistor is a very common failure, but there is also a thermal-resistor (thermistor) that can fail and shut down the fan. A technician with a good wiring diagram, technical database, and access to sites such as Identifix or IATN (International Automotive Technicians Network) can be a big help.

John Paul, AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor, answers questions from drivers every week. He has 40+ years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE certified master technician.