General information and precautions (Opel Astra G)

The electrical equipment of the engine includes components of the ignition, charging and starting systems. Due to the fact that these systems are directly related to the operation of the engine, they are considered separately from other on-board electrical equipment, such as signal and lighting lights, control devices, etc., the placement, design and operating principles of which are covered in Chapter On-board electrical equipment. Since the electronic control system of a gasoline engine controls the operation of not only fuel injection, but also the ignition of the mixture (ignition), a description of the basic principles of its operation is also included in this Chapter (see Electronic ignition control system (and injection) gasoline engines).

When servicing components of electrical equipment systems, special precautions must be taken to avoid the risk of failure of semiconductor elements and to prevent electrical injuries.

When servicing electrical equipment, be sure to remove watches, rings, and other metal jewelry. Even with the battery disconnected, the discharge of capacitors when their terminals are accidentally grounded can cause an electric shock or severe burn.

Do not reverse the polarity when connecting the battery. Components such as the generator or electronic control units contain semiconductor elements that can be damaged if the wires are connected incorrectly.

When starting the engine from an external power source, or connecting a charger, also observe the polarity of the wire connections (see Introduction).



Never disconnect electrical wiring from the battery, alternator or diagnostic equipment while the engine is running.

Do not allow the engine to turn over the disconnected generator.

Never test the generator output voltage by grounding its terminals.

Do not use ohmmeters equipped with a hand dynamo to check for continuity in a circuit.

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When performing any electrical maintenance work, make sure the negative cable is disconnected from the battery.

Before using arc welding, always disconnect the battery, alternator and components such as the fuel/ignition ECM to avoid the risk of damage.