Connector Inspection and Handling
OPEN OR SHORT CIRCUIT INSPECTIONWhen checking for an open circuit or short circuit, it is important to check the connector connection and the condition of the terminals.
- OPEN CIRCUIT:
- This could be due to a disconnected wire harness, faulty contact in the connector, a connector terminal pulled out, etc.
HINTS:
- A wire rarely breaks in the middle of it's length. Most cases occur at the connector. In particular, carefully check the connectors of sensors and actuators.
- Faulty contact could be due to rusting of the connector terminals, to foreign materials entering terminal or a drop in the contact pressure between the male and female terminals of the connector. Simply disconnecting and reconnecting the connectors once changes the condition of the connection and may result in a return to normal operation. Therefore, in troubleshooting, if no abnormality is found in the wire harness and connector check, but the problem disappears after the check, them the cause is considered to be in the wire harness or connectors.
- SHORT CIRCUIT:
- This could be due to a short circuit between the wire harness and the body ground or to a short inside the switch etc.
HINT: When there is a short between the wire harness and body ground, check thoroughly whether the wire harness is caught in the body or is clamped improperly.
VISUAL CHECK AND CONTACT PRESSURE CHECK
- Disconnect the connectors at both ends.
- Check for rust or foreign material, etc. in the terminals of the connectors.
- Check crimped portions for looseness or damage and check if the terminals are secured in the lock portion.
- HINT: The terminals should not come out when pulled lightly.
- Prepare a test male terminal and insert it in the female terminal, then pull it out.
- If the test terminal pulls out of one position more easily than others, there may be poor contact at that position.
NOTE: When testing a gold-plated female terminal, always use a gold-plated male terminal.
CONNECTOR HANDLING
When inserting tester probes into a connector, insert them from the rear of the connector.
- When necessary, use mini test leads.
- For water resistant connectors which cannot be accessed from behind, take good care not to deform the connector terminals.