Replace the test lamp with a cheap multimeter (free from Harbor Freight sometimes) in the current measuring mode (amps). the current value is easier top read than how bright the bulb in the test light is. If the current is really too high, it will fry the multimeter, but it was cheap remember, and now you KNOW there is a large current draw somewhere that should not be there.
On Thu, Jan 24, 2019 at 1:12 PM Jim Cathey via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > The test lamp will be seriously impacting the voltage that the whatsit will > be getting, enough that it might not finish initializing correctly. I > find it best > not to provoke the situation. > > Yes, the brightness of the test lamp (and these are standard tools, cheap, > not something you have to homebrew) tells you how much current is being > drawn. But the most the test lamp will allow is about 1A, and at that the > car will basically be getting zero voltage. Ohm's law, etc. > > The glow plugs being on are easy to detect with the multimeter, just see if > the plugs are getting any voltage when they should not be. > > Here are the diagnostic tools I use, in descending order of importance: > > 1) Brain, running BSEE wetware > 2) Multimeter (decent, e.g. Fluke) > 3) Test lamp (cheap) > 4) DC clamp-on ammeter > > -- Jim > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > -- OK Don *“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.”* – Mark Twain "There are three kinds of men: The ones that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves." WILL ROGERS, *The Manly Wisdom of Will Rogers* 2013 F150, 18 mpg 2017 Subaru Legacy, 30 mpg 1957 C182A, 12 mpg - but at 150 mph! _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
