Fiat Bravo Quiz
Electrical system

Checking electric motors

In this manual: Electrical system
Dear Reader — 1Engine — 35Engine lubrication — 3Engine cooling — 10Ignition/spark plugs — 14Fuel system — 10Petrol fuel injection — 13Diesel injection system — 13Exhaust system — 7Clutch — 7Transmission / Gearshift / Automatic Transmission — 5Front Axle — 11Rear axle — 4Steering — 9Wheel alignment — 1Brake system — 22Wheels and tyres — 10Body — 34Heating — 6Electrical system — 39Lighting system — 14Instruments — 7Windscreen wiper system — 8Vehicle care / tools — 6Jump Starting / Towing the Vehicle — 3Jacking up the vehicle — 1Fiat Bravo / Brava Maintenance Schedule — 1Maintenance — 38Wiring diagrams — 5
~2min read

More and more comfort functions in the vehicle are performed by small electric motors. Examples include the window regulator, the sunroof, the central locking system and the electric antenna.

Each motor is switched on as required by a switch, usually operated by hand. In the case of the electric antenna, the switch is controlled automatically by the radio.

  • Check the fuse of the relevant electric motor and replace it if necessary.

Note: for the electric window regulator and the central locking system, the cause of the overload must be eliminated before operating them again. This can be, for example, iced-up windows and locks, or dirty window guide rails.

  • If the fuse blows again immediately, there is a short circuit.

  • To clearly establish whether the fault lies in the motor, connect 2 auxiliary cables (approx. 2 mm² cross-section) directly from the vehicle battery to the motor. Connect the positive cable to the positive terminal and the earth cable to the earth terminal of the motor. If in doubt, the terminal assignment can be found in the wiring diagram. To do this, the motor may need to be removed. All electric motors in the vehicle are supplied with on-board voltage (12 to 14 volts). If the motor now works properly, the power supply was faulty. Note: an electric motor running too slowly or intermittently can indicate worn carbon brushes. In this case, replace the carbon brushes.

  • If the motor works, use the wiring diagram to determine which supply wire to the electric motor carries voltage when the switch is operated, with the ignition switched on beforehand.

  • Check the live cable at the electric motor with a test lamp. Because a large current flows in electric motors, a conventional test lamp with a bulb can be used. These have pointed test probes that can pierce the connecting cable.

    This is a simple way to check the voltage.

    Motors that rotate clockwise and anticlockwise, for example window regulator motors, have two positive connections.

    Caution: check the windshield wiper motor, see the corresponding chapter.

  • If there is no voltage at the electric motor, the power supply is faulty. Locate and rectify the fault in the supply wire according to the wiring diagram. Due to the high current demand, electric motors generally have additional switching relays. For testing, see the corresponding chapter.

  • If no fault has been found, check the switch.

  • If a cable is defective, it is often more practical to fit a new cable, as it is difficult to locate a fault within a cable.

Test yourself

A quick Fiat Bravo quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.