River Heads

Heading through River Heads or living there and need an auto electrician? As the departure point for the vehicle barges to K'gari, with boat ramps on both the Great Sandy Strait and the Mary River, a lot of the work here is about getting vehicles and boats ready to go.

• Need it fixed? Get a quote from an auto electrician near River Heads, including mobile businesses that come to you.
• Doing it yourself? Order quality parts online from Ozautoelectrics.
• Auto electrician in River Heads? List your business on this site to win more customers.
• Are you a trade customer? Apply here for trade pricing.

Common auto electrical jobs in River Heads

River Heads sits on a narrow peninsula at the mouth of the Mary River, with River Heads Road the only road in. The vehicle barges cross from here to Kingfisher Bay and Wanggoolba Creek on K'gari, and the boat ramps serve the Great Sandy Strait and the river, so vehicles here are often loaded up and about to go somewhere remote.

Ready for the barge

Barge crossings to K'gari need to be booked, and once you're on the island help is a long way off. Before you leave River Heads, check that your starting battery is healthy, your second battery is charging and every light works, including reversing lights for manoeuvring on and off the barge. Island tracks are for high-clearance 4WDs with low range, and they shake everything, so look for loose terminals and wiring before you go rather than on a sand track.

Get it done: get a quoteDo it yourself: shop battery terminals

Fridge plugs that melt

Car fridges running for days through a cigarette socket are a common source of trouble. The socket and plug weren't designed for a continuous load, so they heat up, the plug loosens and in some cases the plastic melts. If you notice a hot plastic smell, unplug it and check the socket. Swapping to an Anderson plug or a heavy-duty 12V socket on its own fused circuit is a better setup. Our guide on burning smells from car wiring explains what to do.

Get it done: get a quoteDo it yourself: shop heavy-duty 12V sockets

Boat batteries before the Strait

Launching from the eastern ramp into the Great Sandy Strait or the western ramp into the Mary River often means a run out to fishing spots well away from help. A boat starting battery that sat flat between trips may still crank at the ramp and then fail later. Test it at home before launching, and keep it on a maintainer between outings. Our guide on how to test a battery applies to boat batteries as well.

Get it done: get a quoteDo it yourself: shop marine batteries

Brake lights after the island

Brake lights and tail lights take a beating on a trip to K'gari, as salt spray and sand get into the globe holders. Often a blown brake light isn't noticed until someone points it out on River Heads Road on the way home. Check all your lights once you're off the barge. If a globe has failed, clean out the holder before you fit a new one. Our guide on replacing a brake light globe covers the basics.

Get it done: get a quoteDo it yourself: shop brake light globes

Cars left in the ramp car park

Some people leave a car parked at River Heads while they spend days on the island or out on the water. Alarms, keyless entry and dashcams in parking mode all draw small amounts of power, and a week or more can flatten an older battery. Turn off the dashcam's parking mode before you leave the car, and check its battery is in good condition. If the car is going to sit for a long time, disconnecting the negative terminal may be an option.

Get it done: get a quoteDo it yourself: shop battery isolator switches

River Heads auto electrical questions

What should I check on my 4WD before catching the barge to K'gari?

Check the starting battery and any second battery, make sure the second battery is charging while driving, test every light and look for loose terminals or wiring. Carry spare fuses, a few cable ties and a multimeter. Make sure you have your vehicle access permit, as it must be bought before you go. Then read the K'gari conditions report.

Is it OK to run a car fridge through a cigarette lighter socket?

For short trips it's usually fine. For days of continuous use, the socket and plug can overheat and loosen, especially on rough roads. A dedicated fused circuit with an Anderson plug or a heavy-duty 12V socket is much more reliable. If your fridge plug is discoloured or the socket feels hot, stop using it and have the circuit checked.

Auto electricians near River Heads

See the Hervey Bay listings for auto electricians and mobile services that cover River Heads.

Looking for parts in River Heads?

Looking for parts in River Heads? Search heavy-duty 12V sockets, marine batteries and brake light globes: quality parts from Ozautoelectrics, dispatched Australia-wide.

Nearby: Booral · Bunya Creek · Susan River

Run an auto electrical business in River Heads?

• New to Ozautoelectrics? Apply for trade pricing on quality auto electrical parts.
• Already a trade customer? Log in and order parts at your trade price.
• Want more local customers? List your business on this site so drivers in River Heads can find you.