When diagnosing a specific problem, organized troubleshooting is a must.
The complexity of a modern automotive vehicle demands that you approach any
problem in a logical, organized manner. There are certain troubleshooting
techniques which are standard:
- Establish when the problem occurs. Does the problem appear only under
certain conditions? Were there any noises, odors or other unusual symptoms?
Isolate the problem area. To do this, make some simple tests and observations,
then eliminate the systems that are working properly. Check for obvious
problems, such as broken wires and loose or dirty connections. Always check
the obvious before assuming something complicated is the cause.
- Test for problems systematically to determine the cause once the problem
area is isolated. Are all the components functioning properly? Is there
power going to electrical switches and motors. Performing careful, systematic
checks will often turn up most causes on the first inspection, without wasting
time checking components that have little or no relationship to the problem.
- Test all repairs after the work is done to make sure that the problem
is fixed. Some causes can be traced to more than one component, so a careful
verification of repair work is important in order to pick up additional
malfunctions that may cause a problem to reappear or a different problem
to arise. A blown fuse, for example, is a simple problem that may require
more than another fuse to repair. If you don't look for a problem that caused
a fuse to blow, a shorted wire (for example) may go undetected.
Experience has shown that most problems tend to be the result of a fairly
simple and obvious cause, such as loose or corroded connectors, bad grounds
or damaged wire insulation which causes a short. This makes careful visual
inspection of components during testing essential to quick and accurate troubleshooting.
