oilleaker1
Full Professor
Full Professor
Has Jeep Disease
Posts: 1,982
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Sparky
Oct 16, 2016 16:47:40 GMT -5
Post by oilleaker1 on Oct 16, 2016 16:47:40 GMT -5
That test light is standard equipment in my vehicle toolbox. You can't see what's missing or wrong in the electrical dept. without one. I've used it countless times to see what's going on with fuses, points, switches, power feeds and just confirming things. To add to my distrust of meters, I once had a horn that would not honk. I read 12 volts at the horn every time the button was pushed. It was a bitch to get it off, but I did. Went to a battery with the horn-----------honked every time I tested it. Put it back on, no honk. 12 volts at the horn again. I then used a test probe type light. No light!!!!!!!! What? ?? So I followed the color coded lead all the way back to the fuse panel with the test light. Lo and behold, power at the other side. Fuse tested good. I slid it back and forth in the fuse holder, honk, honk, honk. So, meters will show minute amounts of voltage, the light needs more. You can literally see the difference in current with the filament type test light. Even see a poor battery with it. There you have it. Oilly
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redwilly
KJRT
Posts: 138
First Name: Glen
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Sparky
Oct 16, 2016 17:04:02 GMT -5
Post by redwilly on Oct 16, 2016 17:04:02 GMT -5
Oilly, the issue with a test light, is it will show you that you have enough voltage to light the bulb, but won't tell you what the amperage is. The same as you found with the meter, you had voltage but due to the resistance in the fuse box you had limited amperage. In your case the voltage drop was enough that the test light turned off. Your multi meter set to amps would have indicated this or set to ohms would have shown high resistance. Just stating this as I have been down this road many times and lost countless hours (dollars) because I relied on the test light when had I followed the flow chart and used a multimeter the problem would have been found and repaired a lot sooner. We just need to understand the limitations of any tool we are using to get the best results. Glen
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Sparky
Oct 16, 2016 17:13:47 GMT -5
Post by rickg on Oct 16, 2016 17:13:47 GMT -5
Oilly, the issue with a test light, is it will show you that you have enough voltage to light the bulb, but won't tell you what the amperage is. The same as you found with the meter, you had voltage but due to the resistance in the fuse box you had limited amperage. In your case the voltage drop was enough that the test light turned off. Your multi meter set to amps would have indicated this or set to ohms would have shown high resistance. Just stating this as I have been down this road many times and lost countless hours (dollars) because I relied on the test light when had I followed the flow chart and used a multimeter the problem would have been found and repaired a lot sooner. We just need to understand the limitations of any tool we are using to get the best results. Glen I dig my multi meter tool and am still learning to use it. Don't leave home w/o the test lite either..
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oilleaker1
Full Professor
Full Professor
Has Jeep Disease
Posts: 1,982
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Sparky
Oct 16, 2016 18:16:35 GMT -5
Post by oilleaker1 on Oct 16, 2016 18:16:35 GMT -5
Glen, you are correct. My multimeter would not survive the tool roll. I have one in my camper though! Getting back to the horn story, It was a dirty fuse holer that caused the resistance. When I simply slid it back and forth in the fuse holder, it got good contact.
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redwilly
KJRT
Posts: 138
First Name: Glen
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Post by redwilly on Oct 16, 2016 18:44:00 GMT -5
I carry a test light in my tool roll and a small multi meter in a hard case along with my spare ignition parts. A test light is a great field tool for a quick test of a component or circuit. I break out the multi meter when things just don't seem right or I am not getting the results I would expect. I probably carry more tools than most but as you know I like to be prepared
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2016 19:16:29 GMT -5
Test light!, don't leave home without it!..... or a multimeter, LOL.... my Brettobuilt toolroll has a test light in it as well...
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oilleaker1
Full Professor
Full Professor
Has Jeep Disease
Posts: 1,982
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Sparky
Oct 16, 2016 20:31:09 GMT -5
Post by oilleaker1 on Oct 16, 2016 20:31:09 GMT -5
Used mine in Canada when a fellows Willys with a v6 quit. He had a electric fuel pump. No power at the pump, traced to a bad fuse holder. We just bipassed it to get home. The light was quick and easy. Love them. Oilly
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Sparky
Oct 17, 2016 11:25:46 GMT -5
Post by binthere on Oct 17, 2016 11:25:46 GMT -5
I too carry both lite and meter. Like Oilly, I tend to use the test light first. I worked as an RV tech. for 12 years, and what we found most was poor ground. I found it quicker to use a light! For sure the multi meter has it's place, but I think it comes down to which you are most comfortable with! My .02 worth!!
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Sparky
Oct 17, 2016 18:13:02 GMT -5
Post by rickg on Oct 17, 2016 18:13:02 GMT -5
Multi meter and handy soft case. Hay Mash-Nib is our drift sufficient?? Could take it to a whole nuther level if we hafta.. Attachments:
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Sparky
Oct 17, 2016 20:43:53 GMT -5
Post by Mashie Niblick on Oct 17, 2016 20:43:53 GMT -5
Multi meter and handy soft case. Hay Mash-Nib is our drift sufficient?? Could take it to a whole nuther level if we hafta.. No need to up the ante. This is just fine. It's kind of like an intermission comedy routine until I reassemble my distributor. Soeaking of, progress has stopped for the night. It was going well until I installed the key through the shaft and now it is a bit tight to turn. It spun really well before that. WTH? My son told me it looked nice AND it looks like a German grenade.
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gmcjr
KJRT
Posts: 907
First Name: Gary
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Sparky
Oct 17, 2016 21:57:54 GMT -5
Post by gmcjr on Oct 17, 2016 21:57:54 GMT -5
My son told me it looked nice AND it looks like a German grenade. Well then..... Just pull the cord and throw it!!!!!! On a serious note, I'm bumfuggled about your issue and have been for some time. I just cant see all the condensors you been through have been bad. Im still thinking it over in my head and have been meaning to call you on the Willis hotline, but eastern time is always a hour ahead!!
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Sparky
Oct 18, 2016 4:40:33 GMT -5
Post by Mashie Niblick on Oct 18, 2016 4:40:33 GMT -5
Today will become the day of reckoning when I lovingly slide that bastage back into the engine so it can mate with its oil pump of a girlfriend. At that point, I hope their love for each other produces the biggest, fattest, bluest spark that engine can handle. If not, I will be chucking that bastage over the fence like a potato masher!
Just standing at the bench and twisting the rotor, I've noticed a much stronger bounce back from the weight springs. It was more like a mosey return that didn't quite come all the way back home. So at least THAT is better.
Here's to hoping...
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oilleaker1
Full Professor
Full Professor
Has Jeep Disease
Posts: 1,982
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Sparky
Oct 18, 2016 5:37:20 GMT -5
Post by oilleaker1 on Oct 18, 2016 5:37:20 GMT -5
After reading it all, I believe it's ignition. When it did run for a short time, it was burning out a very flooded engine. Were all the plugs wet with gas? Just got to wondering if it had water in it not gas. White smoke is water, blue is oil, black is gas. Report back. Oilly
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Sparky
Oct 18, 2016 6:25:08 GMT -5
Post by Mashie Niblick on Oct 18, 2016 6:25:08 GMT -5
The smoke wasn't fully white...I watched it for awhile. It was a smoggy, dirty gray. Definitely not the clean white I'll sometimes see when it burns out the condensation.
i can't remember if I checked the plugs after that brief run. I will say ever time I've pulled the plugs during this bang my head against the wall not so fun adventure, the plugs have been wet.
I also can't be sure how long it's been since I've replaced my plugs. Maybe I'll do that, too.
do old spark plugs get recycled or thrown away?
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oilleaker1
Full Professor
Full Professor
Has Jeep Disease
Posts: 1,982
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Sparky
Oct 18, 2016 6:44:19 GMT -5
Post by oilleaker1 on Oct 18, 2016 6:44:19 GMT -5
It will take alot of spark plugs to weigh a ton at the scrap yard. By the time you make your Jeep run right though-------------
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