Headlight Bulb Change
Automobile Bulb Testing
Testing the wiring in your
These are based on a basic series circuit. A lot of people come across dim bulbs on their car, so I showed a few ways to test the circuit. If the bulb is dim, test the load or power drop across the bulb as shown here. You should have battery voltage. The best way to test what battery voltage is to check the battery at the posts. A good test will show 12v; check your automobilemanufactures recommend voltage for your battery. If it goes below a certain voltage it might not be able to recover when being charged.
If you get anything lower than 12v; then there could be a problem. Next you would need to check the power at the bulb has seen here. If you have anything other than 12v; again some more diagnostics will be need on your part. The best way I found to test a circuit is to break it down. This will require some access to wiring harnesses and fuse boxes. Start with the easy points, the fuse, the ground, the bulb. Never assume all those are good. Some cases a visual look at this may miss the problem. If you check a fuse and it looks ok, but still you have no power. Use your meter to check the fuse while it is in the fuse box location. If you find 12v on one side and 0v on the other then the fuse is bad.
When checking a ground point you will need to find the stud and wire of that circuit. These can sometimes be found in your wiring diagram. They are usually black wires, with eye sockets on the end. They can be fitted with a nut or bolt. Make sure the nut or bolt is tight and there is no rust on the location. Any resistance can cause a problem in your automobile circuit. You need a clean ground to complete the circuit. Checking the bulb socket can always be a good point for loss of power. Tangs inside the socket can become loose or bend causing the bulb not to work or be dim. Make sure the bulb is good by check the filament inside of it. Look very close at it, sometimes it make look good, but one point make not be contacting. Try the bulb in a different socket; if it works then you know you have a circuit problem that needs repairing.
Remember to take your time when testing your automobile wiring. If you’re not sure what to check always refer to a wiring diagram. Once you have found the fault, all you will need to do is repair it. If you really fell uncertain, take it to a repair shop. You will fell better when you can fix it.
Written by U-Can-Auto-Repair
Automobile Bulb Testing
Testing the wiring in your automobile can be a difficult task if you don’t know what to look for. Repairing it can also be hard, depending on where the fault is. I have created a few diagrams, here. These are based on a basic series circuit. A lot of people come across dim bulbs on their car, so I showed a few ways to test the circuit. If the bulb is dim, test the load or power drop across the bulb as shown here. You should have battery voltage. The best way to test what battery voltage is to check the battery at the posts. A good test will show 12v; check your automobilemanufactures recommend voltage for your battery. If it goes below a certain voltage it might not be able to recover when being charged. If you get anything lower than 12v; then there could be a problem. Next you would need to check the power at the bulb has seen here. If you have anything other than 12v; again some more diagnostics will be need on your part. The best way I found to test a circuit is to break it down. This will require some access to wiring harnesses and fuse boxes. Start with the easy points, the fuse, the ground, the bulb. Never assume all those are good. Some cases a visual look at this may miss the problem. If you check a fuse and it looks ok, but still you have no power. Use your meter to check the fuse while it is in the fuse box location. If you find 12v on one side and 0v on the other then the fuse is bad. When checking a ground point you will need to find the stud and wire of that circuit. These can sometimes be found in your wiring diagram. They are usually black wires, with eye sockets on the end. They can be fitted with a nut or bolt. Make sure the nut or bolt is tight and there is no rust on the location. Any resistance can cause a problem in your automobile circuit. You need a clean ground to complete the circuit. Checking the bulb socket can always be a good point for loss of power. Tangs inside the socket can become loose or bend causing the bulb not to work or be dim. Make sure the bulb is good by check the filament inside of it. Look very close at it, sometimes it make look good, but one point make not be contacting. Try the bulb in a different socket; if it works then you know you have a circuit problem that needs repairing. Remember to take your time when testing your automobile wiring. If you’re not sure what to check always refer to a wiring diagram. Once you have found the fault, all you will need to do is repair it. If you really fell uncertain, take it to a repair shop. You will fell better when you can fix it. Written by U-Can-Auto-Repair
Has Your Car Reached 100,000 miles?
http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1521/what-to-do-when-your-car-reaches-100000-miles/
Automobile Wiring Testing
Let’s talk about wiring faults in an automobile. I will start with the basics. I posted a video on how to use a DVOM when repairing. In the video they talked about checking a wire for continuity. What they mean is if a wire is intact and not open/cut causing a problem.
I suggest watching the video cause it will give you the basic idea what happens when you check a wire for continuity. Meter beeps or has a visual symbol showing continuity of a wire. First I must say never use this method when check the resistance of continuity of an automobile airbag circuit, you can set off the airbags if you do. If repair of the airbags is needed disconnect the battery for at least two minutes, and disconnect the airbags from the circuit. If you feel uncomfortable take it in, don’t risk injury here to save a few bucks.
There a few things to keep in mind when repairing a wire of a circuit that you may believe to have a problem. Just because there is a beep/continuity on a wire does not make it ok. A wire can still be holding on by a strand showing it is good, but it might not be enough to carry a load/power. Always check the wire to a ground point a make sure it shows no continuity. There should never be a ground point on a power wire; this will cause a fuse to blow. When checking a wire in an automobile circuit the best thing to do is place your meter probe from where the wire starts and a probe on its end point. You may not always be able to reach these, so break down a wire with connectors. Take connectors out of the circuit and probe from one connector to another. Always back probe a connector never front probe. You can damage pins causing more problems. The connector should have numbers on which pin is which, but they are very small to read. Go by wire color from your wiring diagram.
I will draw up some different ways to test circuits and there most common faults. Bent pins, open female pins, pinched wires, cut harness, melted harness and improper testing are some reasons for automobile wiring faults. Most of the time you will find a fuse that has blown, so you put one in. It may work, but what if it blows out later or if right when you out a new one in? You are going to need to find the cause of this. You could take it in to a shop. But most places may not be has skilled in wiring testing, or have the right equipment. You could take it to a dealer, but it may cost you a pretty penny. Once you find out what is was you could have fixed it yourself. Try a fix it yourself first. Do not go and destroy your automobile while doing this. Take your time and look at thing closely.
A good DVOM, wiring diagram and some time could save you some money on your automobile wiring repairs. I will post some drawings of how to test circuit and there different problems. It will be easier to explain and easier for you to see how to test for faults.
Created by U-Can-Auto-Repair
Car Battery Care and Maintenance
Scan Tool with ABS code reading.
It is not to pricey either....see here
Nice article on hand tools for those around the house jobs!
http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/422/tools-everyone-should-own/

