Distributor and relay points should be examined to see if they are pitted or burned. If they are, they should be smoothed down with a fine platinum file and adjusted to the proper gap. It is essential that the contact points meet squarely. If this is not done burning and pitting will result.
The generator and starting motor commutator should be examined for undue wear and high mica. It may be necessary in order to insure good performance that the commutator be turned down in a lathe and the mica undercut.
The brushes should be properly seated by careful sanding. This is especially necessary when the commutator is turned down. It is desirable to have three-quarters of the brush face bearing on the commutator. This can be determined by examination of the glazed area on the brush after running a short time.
Should the starter drive be of the bendix type, the threaded shaft and pinion should be cleaned, and any grease which has hardened should be removed.
Lamps should be examined. Dim and burned out lamps should be replaced.
All connections of the lighting and ignition switch should be inspected. It should be noted whether the terminals are touching, or nearly touching. If any wires are rubbing thus, entailing the possibility of a short circuit or ground, they should be fixed.
Electric cables that rub on sharp edges of the battery box will soon wear through the insulation from vibration of the car and a short circuit will occur that may be hard to find. Such parts of the wire should be well protected with adhesive tape and should be also frequently inspected.
High tension currents are very hard to control, and a short or leakage often occurs where the wire is cramped. The center wire works or wears through the rubber insulation causing the current to jump to the nearest metal part. This kind of trouble is especially hard to locate as the outer surface of the braided insulation does not show the break.
It is a good plan to examine the wiring for short circuits occasionally in this manner. When putting the car in at night, close the garage door and turn out the lights, running the motor at various speeds and gently moving each wire. If there are any short or grounded circuits a brilliant spark will jump at the defective point.