So who knows how to use a multimeter

Discussion in 'Planes, Trains & Automobiles' started by hurpdaflerp, Mar 23, 2014.

  1. im trying to use this multimeter to find out if the sensor or wires are bad on my coolant temp gauge.  what do i set it to, what is a good reading, and where should i place the test leads.  thanks

     
  2. Find a specific forum for your car, a lot of different answers to consider....
     
  3. i did, but the forum isnt as active as this one. do you know how to use one?
     
  4. Just set it to auto and put the leads before and after where u want to measure


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  5. there is no auto. theres dcv, acv, a dca, dc, bat, and ohm. and i only know what the last 3 are.
     
  6. Send me a pic of your multimeter bro!


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  7. Im thinkin dc volts tho


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  8. [​IMG]
     
  9. Oh man. Fuck electrical. I can test for continuity, that's about it lol.
     
  10. Year make model always helps and Google/YouTube are your best friends when working on cars.
     
  11. i tried that but the more specific you get the less there is.  its an 88 rx7 if that helps any
     
  12. I can make them turn into a fireworks display or a smoke machine.
     
    I had them go Boom!
     
  13. You want ACV, cars barely use DC. And put the red lead on the power side of the gauge and the black on the ground side, and read the volts, as for whats a god reading, you would have to look your specific car up.
     
  14. alright thanks, what one is the power side and what one is the ground side?
     
  15. lol I work with 12v DC on cars all day long. 
     
  16. direct current is only in the alternator if I'm not mistaken? Then it is converted to Ac throughout the rest of the car, what else is DC?

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  17. Lots and lots. Stereos, power antennas, amplifiers (which convert dc to ac for speakers), alarms, remote starts, cig lighters, etc... Srry i'm soooooooooo high fresh off some beautiful blueberry nug testers :) and I'm just listing things I work with. For instance, you'd need a AC/DC converter to run a car radio off of house power (AC).
     
  18. Alternators charge the batt in your car. They use diodes to convert to DC which the batt needs. Diodes basically only let electricity go one way (DC). With a solid 12v charge the battery runs everything else pretty much on direct current. Hope that helps :)
     
  19. so what part of the sensor is the ground?
     
  20. OK You are using an Innova? What kind of sensor? Is it an O2 sensor, whiich is a powered active sensor, or a 2-or 3- wire sensor? What kind of car? If you want specific help, be more specific. Cars have voltage, amperage and resistive based sensors. If you had a Fluke MM like mentioned before they have an auto setting.
     

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