Service Precautions

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 1994 Mitsubishi Diamante. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Before proceeding with diagnosis, following precautions must be observed:

Ensure vehicle has a fully charged battery and functional charging system.
Visually inspect connectors and circuit wiring being worked on.
DO NOT disconnect battery or ECM. This will erase any trouble codes stored in ECM.
DO NOT cause short circuits when performing electrical tests. This will set additional trouble codes, making diagnosis of original problem more difficult.
DO NOT use a test light in place of a voltmeter.
When checking for spark, ensure coil wire is NOT more than 1/4" from chassis ground. If coil wire is more than 1/4" from chassis ground, damage to vehicle electronics and/or ECM may result.
DO NOT prolong testing of fuel injectors. Engine may hydrostatically (liquid) lock.
When a vehicle has multiple trouble codes, always repair lowest number trouble code first.