multimeter "how to" (1 Viewer)

[infl8fn]

Hi all, trying to locate a bad ground (my park lights and signal lights are not working). How use i use a multimeter to locate a bad ground?

Thanks

 

[infl8fn]

sorry drivin a 77 fj 40

 

[71FJ40]

There is no real easy way

1st check the big ground under the dash that has about 10 wires going into it - make sure it is tight, not rusted etc

next, using a spare piece of wire, run a temporary ground from the frame/battery etc to one of the parking lights and see if they come on

let us know what you find

 

[Coolerman]

I think what you want is here: http://www.globalsoftware-inc.com/c...s/ToyotaElectricalPDF/1HowToUseMultiMeter.pdf

This is a very good read.

 

[AlaskanWheeler]

What you can do is put your multimeter to read DC volts and measure all your grounds. For example; attach the negative lead onto the battery ground post, and start measuring all your lights from the ground side of the load, if you see 12 volts then you have an open ground circuit, any kind of voltage gain on the ground side will indicate the condition of the ground circuit; the higher the voltage worse the curcuit is.

Hope that makes some sense.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

What you can do is put your multimeter to read DC volts and measure all your grounds. For example; attach the negative lead onto the battery ground post, and start measuring all your lights from the ground side of the load, if you see 12 volts then you have an open ground circuit, any kind of voltage gain on the ground side will indicate the condition of the ground circuit; the higher the voltage worse the curcuit is.

Hope that makes some sense.

^ ^ ^ This ^ ^ ^

 

[infl8fn]

thanks guys will try tommorrow

 

[edwjmcgrath]

I have a simple way that works with a test light or a multimeter. Take a jumper cable and connect the black cable to battery ground and run the other end of the black cable to the light you want to debug. Connect the negative end of your test light or multimeter to that jumper cable. Put the positive terminal of multimeter/test light on the positive terminal of the light. If the light glows/you show 12v on the multimeter then you have a bad ground on that light.

I like to use a small wire brush and a dremel with sandpaper wheel to clean up ground connections. It'll whip through rust and paint in no time. Remember that often screws are doing the job of grounding. If they're rusty, consider replacing them or cleaning them up.

 

[fieldsken1]

go buy a test light much simpler