Multi Meter

television · Nov 24, 2005

I think before anyone ask for help and they want to try and fix it , they should at least own a small multi meter They can be purchased from £5.00 to £2000. A cheap £5.00 with a current range of 10 amp will cover most jobs on the car.

On the DC range, you can test your battery, missing voltages on relays, washer pumps and the like.

On the OHMs (continuty/ressistance) range you can test,fuses/ broken wires,relays,lamps and small motors/ pumps/switches and sender units.

On the AMPs (Current) range since the item under test has to be in serries, not so much use for the average job, but use for checking battery drain and alarms.

For all of the above I can tell you what you should be reading and how.

Malcolm

clive williams · Nov 25, 2005

malcolm,

I agree, all good toolboxes should have one along with............................
(Anyone else got any ideas for essential tools?)
- my contribution - a good torque wrench

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

mike65 · Nov 25, 2005

A magnatised probe with built in torch to fish out dropped nuts, bolts, screws etc!

Mike.

davidsl500 · Nov 25, 2005

List of swear words and first aid kit.......

marnix · Nov 25, 2005

And a big pot of Elbow Grease

philharve · Dec 9, 2005

Multimeter and other tools?

Hi All

I bought a good quality automotive multimeter from Screwfix a few weeks ago. I think it was a Gunson and it set me back around GBP35.00. I've seen the same multimeter advertised elsewhere for GBP99.00. It's of a nice solid construction with a protective rubber case. It has a large digital display which provides a kind of analogue readout too. I think Screwfix set the selling price too low, it's easily worth a whole lot more. Pick up a bargain while they last.

I've got a fault code reader but this one performs engine analysis too and graphs the results. There's a picture of it in another thread. Fits in the pocket and is based upon an IPAQ PDA. It will do just about everything a PC-based tool will do but for a fraction of the cost.

I also carry a torque wrench and a set of PVC-sleeved wheel nut sockets for use with the torque wrench. A good torque wrench is always very useful.

I also have a metric socket set with 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2 inch drives, courtesy of ebay. Likewise a set of Silverline open/ring spanners covering every size of nut found on an MB. I also have a truly amazing set of torx, hex, spline, star, etc. bits. Everything an MB enthusiast could want.

I also own a quality, multi-stage, battery charger that varies the charge rate according to a programme and may be left connected without harming the battery. Its 20Amp output also enables it to cope with starting cars.

I'm a bit of a tool collector and I keep a watchful eye open for anything unusual and useful. I used to have an oscilloscope.

I've also got a clip-on DC ammeter for use with the multimeter. It can measure anything between a few tens of milliamps to hundreds of amperes. It's non-intrusive, just clip it around a wire and take a reading. I believe it's made by Fluke.

REGARDS Phil

PINBALL · Dec 10, 2005

I agree with TV, and even though I posess 2 large multimeters by RS & Fluke,
with loud continuity buzzers, I still go for the simplest of testers home made just to check that a current is present.

Its a 12v sidelight bulb in a housing/holder with 2 wires soldered on tabs & sprung toothed clips on ends of wires that immediately shows any sign of life by lighting up!

I also have a logic probe (used once) I got 10 years ago when some bozo assured me that it was better than a multi-meter, it aint!

Keith.

television · Dec 10, 2005

PINBALL said:
I agree with TV, and even though I posess 2 large multimeters by RS & Fluke,
with loud continuity buzzers, I still go for the simplest of testers home made just to check that a current is present.

Its a 12v sidelight bulb in a housing/holder with 2 wires soldered on tabs & sprung toothed clips on ends of wires that immediately shows any sign of life by lighting up!

I also have a logic probe (used once) I got 10 years ago when some bozo assured me that it was better than a multi-meter, it aint!

Keith.

Why not add a resistor(if you can dismantle it) to your logic probe then you can use it to read fault codes.

Malcolm

slk280rc · Dec 10, 2005

Can't beat duct tape for a wide range of temporary repairs.

I think it depends on how much you want to carry around with you. Personally, I carry no tools at all in the car, not even the wheelbrace. But I do carry 2l of water.

television · Dec 10, 2005

slk280rc said:
Can't beat duct tape for a wide range of temporary repairs.

I think it depends on how much you want to carry around with you. Personally, I carry no tools at all in the car, not even the wheelbrace. But I do carry 2l of water.

Can I ask what you do with the water.

Malcolm

SLinKyjoe · Dec 10, 2005

if i am on the right track here, you would use it for drinking! something about survival training reminds me about carrying 2 ltrs of water when you can so if you get stuck without water you can at least have 24-48hrs of water! and you aint ever gonna get stuck for that length of time in the UK.

mind you, i could be off track here!

television · Dec 10, 2005

SLinKyjoe said:
if i am on the right track here, you would use it for drinking! something about survival training reminds me about carrying 2 ltrs of water when you can so if you get stuck without water you can at least have 24-48hrs of water! and you aint ever gonna get stuck for that length of time in the UK.

mind you, i could be off track here!

Its all right for you in the center of the universe down here I would have to spend half my pension to get 2ltrs of water.

Malcolm

SLinKyjoe · Dec 10, 2005

television said:
SLinKyjoe said:

if i am on the right track here, you would use it for drinking! something about survival training reminds me about carrying 2 ltrs of water when you can so if you get stuck without water you can at least have 24-48hrs of water! and you aint ever gonna get stuck for that length of time in the UK.

mind you, i could be off track here!

Click to expand...

Its all right for you in the center of the universe down here I would have to spend half my pension to get 2ltrs of water.

Malcolm

i assume it does rain down there?

Bumper · Dec 10, 2005

SLinKyjoe said:
if i am on the right track here, you would use it for drinking! something about survival training reminds me about carrying 2 ltrs of water when you can so if you get stuck without water you can at least have 24-48hrs of water! and you aint ever gonna get stuck for that length of time in the UK.

mind you, i could be off track here!

might be a leaking radiator

Bolide · Dec 10, 2005

Tool du jour

2-cell Maglite with rechargeable batteries

Put my Silver Stars in the other day in the dark and used the Maglite to see what I was doing. Drove off and wondered a bit later where the torch was. Answer: still under the bonnet shining on the n/s headlight

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

turnipsock · Dec 10, 2005

I have a rare collection of tools these days, most seem to be connected with removing stuck or damaged nuts.

A couple of my favs are the gizzmo to push back brake pads and the Stanley self tightning spanner thing (it's the only tool to disconnet brake pipes)

My multimeter cost about £80, ten years ago and is still going strong. I have even used it to detect breaks in the rear window heater.

I'll have to take some pictures of my tools...

turnipsock · Dec 10, 2005

Bolide said:
2-cell Maglite with rechargeable batteries

Put my Silver Stars in the other day in the dark and used the Maglite to see what I was doing. Drove off and wondered a bit later where the torch was. Answer: still under the bonnet shining on the n/s headlight

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Stuff that, I have a big halogen light on a tripod (£20) and another one that sits at floor level (£10). Apart from the problem of planes trying to land on my drive they are the way to go.

Headtorch is a handy thing for messing about, at least you won't leave it under the bonnet. You might get laughed at when you go to the pub and forget about it though.

slk280rc · Dec 10, 2005

Bumper said:
might be a leaking radiator

Bingo! If you're stuck in traffic and a cooling issue occurs, then fix the leak with duck tape and refill. It will save £6000 of engine damage!

All other faults, simply apply duct tape.

television · Dec 10, 2005

turnipsock said:
Stuff that, I have a big halogen light on a tripod (£20) and another one that sits at floor level (£10). Apart from the problem of planes trying to land on my drive they are the way to go.

Headtorch is a handy thing for messing about, at least you won't leave it under the bonnet. You might get laughed at when you go to the pub and forget about it though.

Thank goodness we learn by our mistakes, after you got back from a road test and start to put your tools away, where is that half inch AF spanner, gone forever, or you slamed down the bonnet, wont close because of tools in the wing gutter and now you have pimples on the bonnet.
these days everything goes back to where it came from before a test drive.

Malcolm

clive williams · Dec 13, 2005

turnipsock said:
Stuff that, I have a big halogen light on a tripod (£20) and another one that sits at floor level (£10). Apart from the problem of planes trying to land on my drive they are the way to go.

Headtorch is a handy thing for messing about, at least you won't leave it under the bonnet. You might get laughed at when you go to the pub and forget about it though.

Funny you should say that, I use a Son-T floodlight (a free sample - don't tell the manufacturers), which gives a warm slightly amber glow for cold nights under the 500E. Its amazing where the lumens get to, even round the corners.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

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