HOW TO USE AN AUTOMOTIVE TEST LIGHT TO FIND PROBLEMS!!
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- Опубліковано 11 жов 2024
- This is a video tutorial on how to use a test light to help diagnose automotive electrical problems.
If you have any further interest please visit www.2carpros.com
*Disclaimer: Please use all safety precautions
Thank you for your easy and quick video lesson. I just got my first tester today and had questions as to when to switch from the positive and negative cables of the battery - you answered them which I am so thankful for. Tomorrow is going to be a really fun day because with my light I can now go through all of the electrical and find out more about what is going on with my vehicle.
Awesome! Thanks for watching!
THANKS! i missed that part - Only notice when saying attach test light to Neg. of battery re: Fuel Injector. 2:29
guess depends if Power is constant on - or know to turn on. twisted understanding tells me it's not my forte'. lol
I DO Know website does have info on my car or same engine, when others don't. Cheers!
This is one of the clearest, most concise videos I have ever seen dealing with electrical diagnostics and general application of a simple tool. Thank you. Thank you for the information and thank you for not extending your video with filler. A A A A A++++++++
Hey thanks so much for watching!
Thanks for this. Clear & concise. I especially like where you showed how to test for ground vs testing for power. This is info that will help me.
I have no idea why you have 34 dislikes? It is the proper way to use it, Something seriously wrong with people in today’s world.
Because people like me have liked playlists. Giving a video a dislike is a way of helping the video without wrecking my playlist. UA-cam doesn't care about dislikes vs likes as the algorithm just looks at the total.
A tip : you can watch series on flixzone. I've been using them for watching all kinds of movies recently.
@Lawrence Forrest yup, been using Flixzone} for since december myself :)
@@Banditt42 what's this? Can you explain a little further. Why not just not give either one? Im genuinely interested thanks
I don’t consider there is anything wrong with me except my severe lack of auto electrical knowledge. My gripe for this video is; after connecting the probe to the positive terminal, where do put the tip to find a bad ground?
Thank you for fully explaining and defining everything. That was so informative. 🙂
You are so welcome!
Excellent lesson - thank you!
Thanks for watching!
It’s old school,that why they don’t like it or understand it ,this will saving u $$$$
Short and to the point thanks
Thanks for watching John!
I never showed do u test the fuses with key on or engine off?
You can test fuses with the engine off and key off. But there are some you need to test with the key on.
Nice explanation with some good camera angles. It is worth noting that this is an incandescent bulb inside of the test light shown. If someone is probing a computer output that cannot source enough current, it can possibly damage the car's computer. Or if an airbag wire was probed, it could set off a airbag light, check engine light, or worse, could deploy the airbags. Use a test light with an LED or multi-meter if anyone has doubts!
Riiight 🤣
Great video! Thank you!
Thank you for watching!
For those who don’t understand, this is not about what you can do with the Test Light, “it’s how to use it” there’s a big difference. Unfortunately, you’re on your own to figure it out on that, or you could always ask somebody.
Can u do a video on diagnosing a faulty light switch ?
My abs pump clip isn’t working and I think I have a brake in the wires somewhere
Some if the pins light it up some don’t And i dont know if it means it’s good or bad
how do you test out the fuses in the cat below the steering wheel where do you plug the fuse tester at??
Great question?
I recently purchased a tester light and mine came with a red coloured clamp and I have seen other tester light models with a black coloured clamp.Why are the two different from each other? I understand that one is positive and one is negative just like a battery but don't understand why different makers make them this way?
Is that the same as a continuity tester? 💡
I'm bit late, but for anyone else wondering, no they're not the same.
These testers rely on having an external power source run through them to light up the lamp, usually the car's own battery. When he was checking the alternator for example, that positive connector is wired through to the fuse box and eventually back to the battery positive post. And since you have the tester wire connected directly to the battery negative post, or another metal ground point which is connected back to the battery negative post, then you have a completed circuit from battery positive, through the alternator, through the test light and back to battery negative - hence the test lamp lights up. If you probed that alternator where it should have positive voltage and it didn't light up, then you would know there is not a good 12V at that alternator point. There is likely a problem in the wiring/relays/fuses between the alternator and the battery positive. So you can choose another test point in the middle (say at the fuse box) and continue narrowing down precisely where the fault lies.
Whereas a continuity tester (I've only used the continuity function on a multimeter) will rely on its own internal power source (e.g. multimeter batteries) to send a small voltage out one probe and look for it coming back in through the other probe. Hence if there is a complete circuit without any broken wires or switches in the OFF position then it can determine continuity (completed circuit). And you can test continuity through a simple length of wire, a switch (in the ON position), a metal cutlery knife, anything that will conduct electricity. It doesn't need whatever you're testing to be carrying a voltage or even be connected up to anything else. In fact if you just touch the two multimeter probes to each other it will indicate continuity. Whereas if you did that with these automotive test lamps nothing would happen since there isn't any power source.
Once it is able to test the level of resistance (Ohms), then usually below a set Ohms value the multimeter (on continuity setting) will beep or light up to show a very low resistance path has been found. Bad connections can still have a complete path / circuit but if they have high resistance (like due to corrosion) then it may show an Ohms reading but not low enough to trigger the continuity indicator. In that case you should still be able to see there's a problem because of high or fluctuating, unstable Ohms readings.
Testing for ground like you say, connect the probe to positive, then where do I put the tip?
On the fuses, wires?
A bit more info would be helpful for a novice.
also test lights may not let current thru. i found out after testing a small electric motor on my tractor. i knew was working. remove test lite run str8 wire and it was fine. even tho the light would light showing working condtion
The ground was new to me. nice.
Can I please get a link for a test light for testing a ICU I want to purchase on that is safe .thank you
nice video thanks
So, if the light turns on does it mean it is burned out or no? Im yet to figure that out.
If the light goes on it means the connection is good. If the light don't go on then there is a short, meaning a wire is bare and touching on metal causing an interruption in a continuous circuit.
Ok question I’m trying to figure out my wiring issues for my 1990 GMC Sierra. It has headlights but all the other lights mainly on the back are acting weird for example with key on it has both blinkers front and back but when you turn headlights on nothing on the back works. I used test light on it with parks on and every spot on plug lit up even though I only had parks on. Then I saw this video and hooked my test light up to the ground on my battery and everything is lighting the tester up even if I touch my fender. I hooked up tester to positive side and it won’t light up on anything. I also did that test on my 97 GMC Sierra in which I’m having no problems at all and the test was the same. Any advise
It sounds like you have a ground leak, which is typically caused by corroded or broken wiring. Look it up, and happy hunting!
Can I use it for testing spark plugs ?
FirstGear 8 no at that point you are doing a compression test. Test lights are meant for electrical issues specifically.
Can we check what wire is a reverse light wire with a test light cause I want to install a reverse camera to a Chevy trailblazer 2007 LT
Yes simply have someone put in reverse while you go through the wires and find out which one lights up when in reverse only.
If the fuses are not near the battery, what can you use to ground. My fuse box is in the glove compartment, and I cannot find anything to ground to test the fuses.
i would use a battery operated voltmeter.
@@charlesdowns1691 it has to be another way to do this ?
Can a test light be used to test 3, 4 and 5-prong relays? If so, how is that done?
Yes it can. You just need to know which prongs are connected to each other and which prongs when voltage is applied force the other prongs to become active. Then you can use the test light to see if the circuits are being completed when they should be and if not the relay is bad.
Sorry but you confused me on the fuse box process, lets say i checked the fuse both side right and left lead, and it does not light is that good or bad?
The test light must glow when touching both contacts of the fuse or the fuse is blown. If only one is lit, then you know that must be the contact closest to the battery before the break in the fuse. The contact point on the other side is now cut off from current because off the gap blown out in the fuse. If neither contact lights the tester then you are not receiving power at your fuse box or most likely you don't have your test light grounded properly (a common mistake).
@@davidm3210 thank you
Do you have the key on or off to test the test light
Depends on what you are trying to diagnose. Usually it's key on engine off though. Thanks for watching!
Will a voltage meter work just as well?
Yes
Power to find ground, ground to find positive. THATS IT ...
If voltage like 6 or 14, bulb should be Bright? Bulb in the Test light is 12v.
Anything less than the 12v it will work, but it will be dim instead of bright. For example, a lot of circuits such as the power to the injectors in some vehicles will show a dim light because they use only 5 volts.
Thats not true a lot of these test lights will light up at 3 or 4 volts all the way to 14. Thats why I think these style test lights are garbage. Used to own one and then went to a votage display test light all in one.
Is this the same as a continuity test light probe?
Yes
Im from Philippines boss i need to know how to test wiring so how.
The guy sounds like Napoleon Dynamite's brother. But good video.
Thanks for watching!
Maybe I'm dumb but I wish this video would explain what it even means when the light comes on lol. Like, is that mean it's good?
The test-light turning on just means the circuit is complete. Which means where you are sticking it is getting power. Thanks for watching!
@Damnit Bobby He was testing for ground. An alternator grounds through the bolts so the whole casing is a ground. It means the ground was good on the alternator only. A regular test light CAN NOT test to see if the alternator is working properly. For that you need a voltage tester.
That is some seductive way to speak. That's how you teach girls lol
cute gloves
Thank you! Thanks for watching!
2CarPros guys I'm real sorry I wear gloves to and this video helped me.
my light is computer safe. it also has 2 connections. neg and pos.
Hi there,
Sorry to bother you, I invite you to use our test light for free sincerely , and I'd like to receive your suggestions and tell us the experience of used it.Can we?
bro y the man . i know thats right.
So how is a 10 dollar test light checking the condition of a fuse and also testing to see if power is going through it? I'll wait.
I own a 120 dollar test light that has a voltage display and will show when polarity is switched, I will never go back to just a regular test light. So many times the light will light up but its not the proper voltage and your screwing yourself in finding the problem.
Because the fuse is either working or it's not. If I needed to know exact voltage and amperage I'd grab my multimeter. Thanks for watching!
@@2carpros So thats what you should say. Also how does one test to see if an alternator is working with a test light? Your confusing lots of people because you can't really test an alternator with just a test light. Not saying you don't know what your doing but your confusing a lot of people that are coming here for advice with words you choose. Only thing this video shows is how to use a test light and people are still confused. What all I have to say is why there is so many dislikes. At the same time if people don't know how to use one or how to figure out if an alternator is bad I guess there isnt much help you can give those types anyways.
75 dislikes vs 1.3k likes is actually a pretty good ratio here on UA-cam. This video is how to use a test light. Testlights are cheap and great tools to help sniff out electrical problems.
8511664719 bhai
guys is it true that you can damage the electrical system if you use a test light with an incadecent bulb?
see www.bcae1.com/testlite.htm
I have never experienced that. Thanks for watching!
Not very good video bro... you show a fried plug....did you do a test to find that? But pretty obvious that it done working. You should do alot more tests. I think everyone knows how to test a fuse. Im having to find why my battery is draining can you use it for that? I also believe i have some broken wires in the steering column how about that? Why would my cig lighter fuse pop? How about that?