Detecting faults in electrical equipment systems (Mitsubishi Pajero 1)

A typical electrical circuit consists of a piece of electrical equipment, switches, relays, motors, fuses, fuse links or circuit breakers, and the wires and connections that connect all of the components together and to the battery and vehicle ground.

Before you start checking a faulty circuit, first study the circuit diagram to understand what elements it consists of. The source of the fault can be found more quickly if you determine which elements of the circuit are working properly. If multiple components or circuits fail at once, the problem is likely a blown fuse or poor grounding, as often a single fuse controls multiple circuits.

Problems with the operation of an electrical system are usually caused by simple reasons such as corroded or loose contacts, a blown fuse, a blown fuse link, or a faulty relay. Visually check the condition of all fuses and wires (if possible) and connections in the faulty circuit before starting to check other elements of this circuit. If you are going to use test equipment, use the schematic diagrams to determine which connections need to be tested to locate the fault.

The main devices needed to find a fault in an electrical circuit are a voltmeter (or a 12 volt light bulb with connecting wires), a circuit continuity tester, a battery with connecting leads and a jumper cable, preferably with a circuit breaker that can be used to connect in parallel to the circuit.

Before you begin troubleshooting using test equipment, study the circuit diagrams to determine the connection points.

[The original can be found on the website: MitsubishiMan.ru]