Electrical

Electrical Diagnostics in Bayview, San Francisco

Electrical problems are what other shops send to us. Frank has been chasing wiring gremlins, intermittent shorts, parasitic battery drains, and module communication errors for almost three decades. If you have a check engine light that nobody else can clear, a battery that keeps dying overnight, or weird behavior from your gauges, lights, or windows, this is the right shop.

What we diagnose

Almost anything electrical: check engine lights, ABS lights, airbag lights, hard starts, no-starts, parasitic battery drain, alternator and starter problems, intermittent stalling, communication errors between modules, immobilizer and key fob issues, and aftermarket installs that broke something.

  • Check engine light diagnosis (all manufacturers)
  • Parasitic battery drain testing
  • Alternator and charging system testing
  • Starter and ignition diagnostics
  • CAN bus / module communication faults
  • Wiring repair and connector replacement
  • Aftermarket alarm and remote-start diagnosis

How we diagnose

We do not throw parts at problems. The first hour is diagnostic time. We read codes from every module on the car (not just the engine), test the actual circuit with a meter, and follow the wiring diagram. Once we have proven what is broken, we write you an estimate to fix it. Diagnostic time is billed transparently. You see what we charged for what.

Why electrical work is different

A new alternator does not fix a bad ground wire. A new battery does not fix a parasitic drain. Most electrical comebacks happen because someone replaced the symptom instead of the cause. We replace the cause.

What it costs

Diagnostic time runs by the hour and we set a cap up front so you are not surprised. Simple problems like a bad ground or a chafed wire we can find in 30 minutes. Complex intermittents on a CAN bus can take longer, but we will check in before we keep going.

Electrical questions

Real questions, straight answers.

My check engine light came on. Should I drive to you?+
If the light is steady (not flashing), driving to us is usually fine. A flashing check engine light means an active misfire and you should not drive. Call us at (415) 648-2226 and we will tell you whether to drive or tow.
How much does electrical diagnosis cost?+
Hourly diagnostic rate, billed in 30-minute increments after the first hour, with a cap we agree on before we start. We will give you an honest estimate after the first 30 minutes once we know roughly what we are dealing with.
My car keeps killing batteries. Can you find why?+
Yes. Parasitic draw testing is one of our specialties. We isolate every circuit on the car and find the one that does not shut off when it should. Common culprits: aftermarket alarms, glove box and trunk lights, faulty modules.
Do you work on hybrid and EV electrical systems?+
We service the 12V systems on hybrids and EVs (which is what fails most often) and we work on Prius, Camry Hybrid, RAV4 Hybrid, Bolt, Leaf, and most of the major hybrids. High-voltage battery work goes to the dealer; we will tell you when that is the case.

Stop By

A & C Auto Clinic

2800 Oakdale Ave

San Francisco, CA 94124

(415) 648-2226

Mon to Fri, 8am to 5pm. Walk-ins welcome. Closed Sat and Sun.