|
"...how do I test for a closed circuit (ie voltage) at the fues panel? do I place the probes either side of the fuse? How can I measure voltage with the battery disconnected?"
Good questions.
First, use your voltmeter with the negative probe attached to a solid and reliable ground, and use the positive probe to measure voltage on each side of the fuse at the fuse clip. As much as possible, do this with the circuit active. That is, with current flowing through the fuse. A perfect fuse (and clips) will show no change in voltage from one side to the other, whereas a crummy fuse and/or corroded, high resistance contacts will exhibit voltage drop. In this case, for example, you might see 13 volts on the "high" side and 9 volts on the "downstream" side of the fuse. This would require immediate attention. (You'd probably also raise a blister if you touched this fuse.)
You could also measure the drop directly across the fuse (by touching the fuse clips with the probes). In the above example, a perfect fuse would show 0 volts drop whereas the crummy fuse would show 4 volts drop.
Finally, make your measurements with the battery connected and able to turn on various loads (wipers, lights, radio, and so on). Once you've "mapped out" the fuse conditions (keep notes of your measurements) you disconnect the battery and dig into the fuse panel with a wire brush, sandpaper, etc. to clean up the fuse clips.
Because you're trying to reconnect the lighter to a different circuit, you'll be moving connectors among fuse tabs, probably using needle-nosed pliers. You do this with the battery disconnected.
The "downstream" side of the circuits (or after the fuse) is the end toward the inside of the car, nearer the driver's knees.
|
