PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-580
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 580
MARCH 2001
PS 580
MAR 01
9
PS 580
MAR 01
8
All Vehicles.
..
ometimes the only thing wrong with a vehicle’s electrical system is a poor ground.
Consider that before you go chasing an electrical problem all over the vehicle.
Poor or bad connections can cause the vehicle’s electrical system or components
to malfunction or fail. That’s because all connections must go to a ground for the
system to work properly.
That means electricity will not flow right unless all ground connectors are solid-
ly connected. Remember, there may be more than one ground in some circuits.
Here are a few basic things to remember when checking grounds:
Make continuity check at the
negative battery terminal
If the continuity reading exceeds the resistance limit noted in your vehicle’s -20-1
TM (for example, 0.5 ohm for HMMWVs), look for corroded or loose connections
in the electrical system. Those corroded or loose connections will cause erratic
operation in electrical components and eventual failure.
❏
Always check continuity to
the battery negative terminal
rather than to the vehicle body or
the engine block. The battery ter-
minal includes body and block
connections in its circuitry.
❏
Always make sure that exposed elec-
trical connections are corrosion-free and
tight. That includes vehicle body
grounds, component ground points and
battery terminals.
Ground connections
corrosion-free and tight?
❏
Take the time at semiannual
and annual PMCS to inspect and
clean electrical connections.
Repair or replace any that are
damaged.
Inspect and
clean electrical
connections
580. 08-09 (C)
1/29/01
9:50 PM
Page 1
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