yes you can use a multi meter but a test light is like 8 bucks and is so simple to use. you take the alligator clip and clip it onto a metal piece of the body somewhere (a ground) then take the pointy part and stick it in wires and if there is a light then you have power. so much easier to use than a multi meter. i strongly suggest it to you

Pffftt...... Sketchy and me are butt buddy's.
He is the receiver.

Shift _ Your own damn gears.

1992 Nissan 240sx Hachback - Project (rb25det)
1990 Nissan 240sx Hatchback SE - DD

need misc s14/s13 5 speed stuff ?
http://forums.nicoclub.com/zer...n-abs

Quote, originally posted by sebazztard »

+100000 on the test light, you wouldnt belive how this saved my ***. you really need to learn how to diagnose properly. people are telling you how to check things and you arent listening. buy a test light, learn how to use the fsm and you are good to go. honestly bro, its a matter of listening and doing a bit of research. spend the money on a new unit, or spend like 6-8 bux on a test light at walmart and check to see if you have circuits when you press buttons. if you dont know how to use a test lamp, do research on that. if you dont have any power going to your hvac, how is a new one going to fix the problem? i hope you figure this out, im on your side , not trying to be a dick

please take our word!! get to learnin.

oh ****, i can get em at like walmart or somthing right? that sounds way easyer, so im gonna try to get one tonight.

idk much about wiring though.. so i wouldnt know how to check the connection for the reciever in the HVAC if its not plugged into power, or however id do it.

Quote, originally posted by sebazztard »

+100000 on the test light, you wouldnt belive how this saved my ***. you really need to learn how to diagnose properly. people are telling you how to check things and you arent listening. buy a test light, learn how to use the fsm and you are good to go. honestly bro, its a matter of listening and doing a bit of research. spend the money on a new unit, or spend like 6-8 bux on a test light at walmart and check to see if you have circuits when you press buttons. if you dont know how to use a test lamp, do research on that. if you dont have any power going to your hvac, how is a new one going to fix the problem? i hope you figure this out, im on your side , not trying to be a dick

not trying to sound defensive, but people havnt really told me anything that i didnt go out and try. its not like anybody is really reading this or trying to give me advice in the first place. 2 of the 4 pages are probably just "bump"

to the ones who are trying to help though (you, motoman, spooled (on aim), 2nd nissan), i really appreciate it.

havnt seen any suggestions so far that i havnt tryed besides the test light, but im gonna try that tonight once i can get one.

as far as the matter of listening and doing research. Id listen if people posted up stuff to listen to, and i dont really know where i can research this stuff

but anyways, thanks for helpin out, ill get a test light tonight and update the thread assuming i can figure out how to use it

they had a continuity tester, and some voltage meters. I figured the continuity tester mighta been it, since it had two aligator clips like you described, and a light, but i asked the guy so i could learn and make sure. I told him my situation, and he said the continuity tester isnt gonna tell me powers going out, but only to find where a break in the wire is

Voltage meter doesnt seem like it, and sombody on here said its way more complicated, the light is way easyer

are you sure its called "test light", and theres not another name for it?

Want a custom grill for your kouki s14?

check sfldrifters.com, and post a WTB add

but yeah dude, during or after the weekend somtime if i can borrow it thatd be sick

you sure theres not another name for it

*edit* heres a random clip i found on youtube ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvLX__pwspg

so on the probe part, connect into the hvac and turn switches to see if it lights up.

kinda like this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...lated

Modified by sebazztard at 10:26 PM 5/23/2008

at lowes they had a basic continuity tester for under $3.00, but they had no clue wtf a test light was

i dont wanna beg my mom to take me to walmart for no reason

either way tho, i picked up a little pack at walmart so its all good

let you know what happens

also, i know its a common question, but i searched nico and google for a good 15 minutes and couldnt find it, but does anyone know where i can find a downloadable factory service manual? thanks

Get on aim.

http://www.240edge.com/manuals/usdm-cars.html

http://www.240edge.com/manuals/240sx-1995.html

ill check out the FSM tommarow, also i cant get the thing to light up cause i cant find a ground or im not doing it right, anyone got any advice?

the air mix door was working again, i was like happy as balls. After five minutes though, it decided it wanted to stop working again. I seriously dont know what the fck to do

i have the test lights, and i found a ground to hook it up to, but i dont know where to check. On the white plug for the HVAC switches, the end two dont light up, so my guess is those are ground?

what else can i check for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...lated

i watched that video again, and thats pretty much what i did, but how would i know which ones are supposed to have continuity and which arent?

also, how would i do it, if the hvac is plugged in?

as far as a college class... im only 16 bro lol

my dads pretty good with this stuff, so hes been helping me a tiny bit when he can, but he thinks its a mechanical problem and not electrical. i still wanna check to see if its an electrical or connection issue first though, cause its not good to take out the motor and put it back together, or get a new one, if its still not gonna work cause of a stupid switch.

he agrees with me that its better to do it ourselves cause the dealer is gonna rape us on this one, and he thinks its cool that im learning and ive already gotten this far

im gonna be persistant on this one, so im still willing to take any advice you guys throw my way, but i really wanna check if its the electrical, but how do i do that?

read a few posts up as far as what ive tried so far with the test light

the test light, while a good idea... doesnt help **** if he is just randomly poking wires...

you need to get really systematic with this man... so get good and comfertable in your inverted gandi postion... pick a singel wire in the hvac control unit.. and make sure the power is on to the car ( IE key is turned to the point where the windows will roll down if its got power windows.. if not... one click before it trys to turn over.. ) and push each control button ( IE feetize.. face-ie, bothie etc etc.. ) and leave it on a single setting for a few seconds.. if no lights.. push the next button down the line.... if you get no light at all for any of the buttons or fan control switch ( just so you know what wire you got poked try all the controls ) move onto the next until you find the one your after...

let me know what you come up with...

idk which of the three plugs for the HVAC goes to the directional switches

but **** im dying to try this now

okay so i got pictures.. lets start easy:

now this should be what your looking at when you start.

this is where you are going to connect the alligator clip that is on the test lamp ( it should work just fine ) this is under the shift boot..

now just from looking at the back of the controls i can tell that the connector on the left ( not shown in this picture ) is most likely power in and fan controls only.... the wires you need to test are all the one on the two connectors on the right.. follow the slow test method ( i stated above ) and you should hopefully see some results... its a lot of wires... a ton to be honest... if i knew you could ( not being rude, i just know you wouldnt have a clue ) i would recommend looking at the wiring diagram for this out of the....... wait for it..... FSM <~ best buddy to any car guy or gal...

this process is going to take you a while... so dont make any plans...

Modified by Devilstar at 3:58 PM 5/28/2008

P.S. somebody owes me a beer lol...

let me know if i can help in any other way man....

EDIT:

okay so i am a little nervous to make sure you are testing right...

this should be similar to your test.. once you get the ground hooked up as shown in the picture... you take the sharp end and stab the wire... make sure you break through the coating on it.. or you wont get a light at all... the metal tip has to touvh the copper on the inside of the wire.. if that makes sense...

none of the other ones are showin up

here are links in the same order

http://img.photobucket.com/alb...e.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/alb...y.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/alb...t.jpg