Troubleshooting Car Problems -4 Crucial Tools of the Trade

It is inevitable. Every car and truck will eventually experience a problem of one type or another. All mechanical and electrical equipment experiences wear and degradation over its operating life. Reducing the rate a vehicle deteriorates is possible by performing timely, routine, maintenance. None the less, problems still occur.

Today’s cars employ sophisticated electronic controls, making it harder every model-year for the do-it-yourself mechanic to diagnose car problems–at least in the traditional sense.

Fundamentally, drive train, suspension, and ancillary systems are the same today as they were thirty years ago. Albeit, a lot smarter, and, therefore, quite a bit more complicated to troubleshoot.

Troubleshooting car problems on today’s vehicles requires the right tools. No, this does not mean the high-end stuff found at the dealership or professional automotive garage, but less-expensive tools for testing circuits and isolating electrical problems are necessary.

Test Light – Troubleshoot Electrical Issues

Ask any mechanically inclined car owner, “What is the most basic troubleshooting tool for diagnosing electrical problems”? And you will likely get the same answer–a reliable test light. The use of test lights for troubleshooting electrical car issues is nothing new. But even with the advances in automotive circuitry, they still have their place.

Always use a bulb rated at 10-ohms or less. A greater resistance than 10-ohms will not allow some smaller currents to pass through and light the bulb.

While inexpensive test lights are available, it pays to spend an extra dollar or two and purchase an automotive-grade test light. A robust test light has a heavy gauge electrical wire with an industrial-grade gator-clip. Not only will the light provide a more reliable indication when testing, but it will also last much longer than a cheaper light.

Digital Volt-Ohm-Multimeter

The use of a digital voltage meter (DVOM) opens up a range of options for testing automotive electrical circuits. DVOMs are capable of reading voltage, resistance, amperage, temperature, frequency, capacitance, and diode testing.

Like computers, prices of DVOM meters continue to drop. Prices range from as little as $35 to $40 for a standard DVOM, to as much as $3000 dollars or more. Unless using the DVOM as a professional automotive technician, a standard digital meter is adequate.

With a basic knowledge of electricity, a familiarization with using the DVOM, and a copy of the manufacturer’s electrical prints, basic troubleshooting can be performed on most automotive electrical circuits.

Logic Probe – Testing for an Electronic Pulse

For testing the presence of a pulse, such as electronic pulses to fuel injectors, a logic probe is invaluable. While they do not measure the amount of voltage, a logic probe indicates electronic pulse outputs on components such as mass-airflow-sensors, coil pick-up speed sensors, and optical distributor outputs.

Logic probes are powered by connecting its leads to a 12-volt battery source for the red lead, and the suspect circuit’s negative return wire. The sharp probe of the tester is then applied to the component circuit being tested.

Scan Tool – Either Stand Alone or PC Software Scan Tool

Every passenger vehicle on the road today in North America uses an onboard diagnostic system (OBD). The computer-based system monitors and records the engines principal components and their performance. It is this system that turns on the check engine light, or Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL).

A scan tool plugs into the vehicle’s OBD connector for reading the actual code that sets the engine light to come on. The code is then either translated on the scanner, or the code compared to the manufacturer’s list of OBD codes to determine the problem.

Scan tools are available as a hand-held, stand-alone, device, or as a PC based software. The software version is generally less expensive than the stand-alone version and provides much more functionality.

Troubleshooting car problems with a scan tool takes a lot of the guesswork out of the process. Most auto parts stores and service centers provide an OBD scan as a service, many times it is free of charge. In addition, scan tools can be borrowed or rented from many national chain parts houses.

While the list of troubleshooting tools is exhaustive, the most basic for the do-it-yourself auto mechanic is covered here. Troubleshooting car problems do not have to be left for the professionals exclusively, with the right tools, anyone who is inclined to, can troubleshoot their own car.