Car electrical repairs cover a wide range from a simple fuse replacement to a complex ECU or wiring harness job. In the UAE, where extreme heat stresses every electrical component and air conditioning runs virtually year-round, electrical faults are more common than in cooler climates. Here is a complete 2026 cost guide.
Diagnostic Scan Cost
Before any repair, a diagnostic scan reads fault codes from all vehicle control modules. This costs AED 150 to AED 300 at most UAE garages. Avoid garages that jump straight to replacing parts without scanning first — guessing costs money and often does not fix the root cause.
Battery and Charging System Costs
Car battery replacement: AED 300 to AED 700 depending on brand and capacity. Alternator replacement: AED 600 to AED 1,500 including parts and labour. Alternator belt replacement (if separate from drive belt): AED 150 to AED 300. Voltage regulator (external): AED 100 to AED 250. Battery terminal cleaning and re-connection: AED 50 to AED 100.
Sensor and Actuator Repair Costs
Sensors account for many electrical fault codes in UAE vehicles. Common replacements: O2 (lambda) sensor AED 200 to AED 450, MAF (mass airflow) sensor AED 300 to AED 700, throttle position sensor AED 200 to AED 400, crankshaft/camshaft position sensor AED 200 to AED 500, temperature sensor AED 150 to AED 350. Actuator replacements (throttle body, EVAP purge valve) cost AED 200 to AED 600.
Wiring Fault and Short Circuit Repair
Wiring faults are labour-intensive to trace. Simple fuse box repairs cost AED 100 to AED 300. Tracing and repairing an open circuit or short typically takes 2 to 5 hours of specialist auto electrician time at AED 150 to AED 250 per hour, plus parts. A full wiring harness replacement (rare but occasionally required on high-mileage vehicles) costs AED 2,000 to AED 8,000 depending on model complexity.
ECU and Module Replacement Costs
ECU (engine control unit) replacement and programming costs AED 1,500 to AED 5,000 depending on the vehicle make. Body control module (BCM) replacement costs AED 800 to AED 2,500. ABS module replacement costs AED 800 to AED 2,000. Used ECUs with VIN cloning are cheaper but carry risk — a reputable UAE garage should advise on OEM vs remanufactured options.