EffSee3

hmm....VERY noob question....here goes:

my sunroof doesn't work, i checked the rails, they look fine, so i'm trying to test it for current, I DONT KNOW HOW TO USE A MULTIMETER, where do i start? I bought powerbuilt digital multimeter from radio shack.

thanks in advance

X-JaVeN-X

Every meter's a little different...and I don't know that one in particular...but generally you want to check for voltage on thigs like that....and the basic idea to that is, you have to set the meter to a voltage range, which there are probably multiple voltage ranges...

Since you're testing for 12v or less generally in a car you want to set it to the first setting above 12v. You'll then want to ground the black cable of the meter to a good chassis spot on the car...this is alot easier if you have the alligator clip attachments...your meter may or may not have those. After you ground the black lead...you then test the wire of the device you want to see has voltage. The leads should have sharp points, so just poke a wire with that sharp point and you should get a reading.

As far as testing the sunroof...I find the power wire and test it as close as you can to the motor....I don't know the specifics on the wiring setup for the sunroof of these cars, you'll probably have to proble the wire while you have the switch for the sunroof depressed.

Sorry for the vagueness...this is just basic info...maybe somebody else can give you more specifics on what color wires to test and where to find them...etc.

EffSee3

ah, i think i get the idea, i'll check it out tonight when i get home, thanks for the help!

J-Rat

iTrader: (2)

Testing for CURRENT and VOLTAGE are two entirely different things. Voltage is the reading of the system voltage (ie 12VDC for 12 Volts Direct Current). This is measured by finding your voltage source and measuring the difference in potential between it and ground.

Current is a measure of the LOAD placed on the system. Now a high current load CAN lower voltage, but thats simply because the load has started to exceed the system capacity. Current is measured by placing the multimeter IN LINE between the source and the load and is measured in Amperes.

Just some fyi!

Rat

EffSee3

ok, so i went out and checked the current, 12Vs all around, except for the ground wires, i think they were blue or yellow with a blue stripe, not sure (i thought all ground wires were either black or brown?).

went and checked the harness at the S.R. motor, the harness that connects to S.R. switch, still getting voltage. i'm still getting current too: hooked up the multimeter, pressed the switch, 12Vs; let go of switch, 0Vs.

so, is there anywhere else that i should check? thanks again in advance.

X-JaVeN-X

if you're getting 12v at the motor when the switch is pressed...then it's not the wiring. Either your motor is bad...or the more common problem...the cables thgat pull the motor are seized up in the rails and just won't move the sunroof. Do you get any clicking sounds? Do you hear any sounds at all from the motor when you press the switch? I know my sunrrof, the cables are locked up but you can definitely hear the motor come on, but the gear skips and makes a clicking sound.

Generally if that is the problem, you can take it apart and clean/regrease the cables and rails and it should work again. On the other hand...if it is your motor, just put another one in. You can find them here pretty cheap...or you can probably pick up the whole assembly...motor and all, and replace the whole thing.

EffSee3

hmmm...could i have gotten 2 bad sunroof assemblies!?!

long story short: my old one used to make clicking noises, that one had seized up. so i went and got one from the local junker (30 miles away!), that one didnt make a noise at all, maybe because the motor was shot? so then i tried to manually crank both of them: click, click, click, clack!

got another from a guy who said it worked when he tested the day i was goin to pick it up, brought it home, hooked it up, nothing. that one, however, didnt make any clicking noises when i manually cranked it, it was nice and smooth.

so, i went back and hooked up my old one to check if it was still working/clicking, well guess what, nothing, not even a clicking noise.

i figured it was the fuse, but that checked out ok. so now i'm stuck in this electrical dilemma...guess i'll have to 'manually' crank that baby open every time i want some ventilation