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Intermittent wiring problem (how do you debug it?)

To: <JonL@avanade.com>
Subject: Intermittent wiring problem (how do you debug it?)
From: "Tim Economu" <economu@whidbey.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 20:27:17 -0700
Hi Jon:
Intermittent electrical problems usually only "seem" intermittent. In fact
they are usually coincidental with something physical. Like centrifugal
force moving a wiring harness in a sharp corner, a solder joint becoming
more resistive (and less conductive) at cold temps, or a switch contact
shorting out to case ground at a certain place in its rotation.

Try to tune in to what exactly is happening when the fuse blows. Are you
just starting the car? Is it hot? Is it on an incline? Do you hit the
brakes? Once you find a link to something physical, usually this will lead
to clues about where the problem is.

Alternately, if the thing really appears intermittent, you can shake the
wiring harness in all the places you can grab. What you are trying to find
is where a wire is bare and touching the frame (like going through the
firewall or a grommet that is broken) or where two wires might be touching.
Other good places might be in the boot where your tool box or tire might be
grounding wires into the boot well.


Kind regards,

Tim Economu
Electrical Design Engineer
'69 MGBGT Which does have a name, and which also had an intermittent brake
switch that had to be replaced.


+++++++++ contact info ++++++++

Tim Economu
Offgrid Engineering LLC
4131 Springwater Rd.
Clinton, WA 98236 USA
phone:  360-579-2117
economu@whidbey.com
http://home.yqi.com/time/

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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