Before Replacing Electronic Components, Try These Tips (HSN 0102-12)

BEFORE REPLACING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, TRY THESE TIPS

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

SERVICE INFORMATION

Many of the electronic components in automobiles have computer chips. Besides ECMs/PCMs, you'll find them stashed in audio units; speedometers; odometers; clocks; climate control systems; control units for ABS, TCS, ATTS, and SRS; security systems; keyless remote transmitters; and multiplex control units. The downsides of all this high-tech stuff are software glitches or bugs, and vulnerability to voltage spikes. And if that isn't enough, static electricity, lightning, ultraviolet light, strong magnetic fields, radio waves, and radar can make a software bug even worse. Before you replace a suspected electronic component, try these tips first. They could spare you unnecessary replacement.

• Disconnect the positive and negative battery cables, and touch them together for a few minutes. This forces all capacitors in the component to drain, which clears and resets the computer chip. If a software glitch is the cause, resetting the chip this way is usually as effective as installing a new component.
• Unplug the connectors from the component, wait a few minutes, then reconnect them. If a poor connection is the villain, disengaging and engaging the terminals in the connector cleans contact surfaces and usually fixes the problem. While you have the connector unplugged, look at the pins and terminals for signs of contact. If you have any doubt that things are connecting properly, remove the female pin and use it like you would a feeler gauge to check the contact. If terminals are damaged and need to be replaced, see the article HSN 0800-04 - NEW TERMINAL INSPECTION FEELER TOOL SET, in the August '00 issue of ServiceNews.