Terminals, Understanding these things... Options

[martinef1963]

Yes I am a rookie (newbie) and am constantly perplexed by the "jargon, terminology" of the 914 world. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/unsure.gif)

Can someone esplain to this rookie what is meant when manuals say: You can test it by measuring the resistance between terminal # whatever and # whatever......... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif)

thanks - another question from the ranks of a newbie...... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beer.gif)

[lapuwali]

You take an ohmmeter, which today will usually be found in the form of a multimeter (available at most places that sell tools for $20 or so). The meter will measure resistance (in ohms), voltage, and current, plus probably a few other things.

If the manual spells out you need to measure resistance, you use the ohms setting on the meter, and touch the probes to the two places mentioned. If one of those places mentioned is "ground", you attach it to someplace on the body, or the - terminal of the battery, if it's nearby. The meter will display the resistance, in ohms, which needs to be compared against whatever the manual says it should be. If you don't get the required number, try fooling with the probes and exactly where they contact a bit. You may need to clean the places the probes touch (which, in fact, may be the cause of the very problem you're trying to diagnose). Electrons don't like to cross old, corrodded connections. If one of the connections is ground, a painted part of the body may not work. You'll probably find an unpainted part, like the case of the gearbox or engine, or a bolt that connects directly to the body, will work. Any brown wire on the car will, eventually, connect to ground. A cluster of brown wires attached to a bolt on the body is a ground point.

If the manual says to measure voltage, there'll be a DC voltage setting on the meter you need to use instead. You won't use the AC voltage setting on the meter. You're also less likely to use the current (amps) setting in most procedures.

None of this is 914 specific, or even car specific, but is basic electricity. There are a few sites out there that explain basic electricity and electronics. It's not the easiest subject to understand for many people, so don't be discouraged if it all seems unfathomable to you at first.