Tools Required
| • | J 35616 GM-Approved
Terminal Test Kit |
Most intermittent conditions are caused by faulty electrical connections or
wiring. Inspect for the following items:
| • | Wiring broken inside the insulation |
| • | Poor connection between the male and female terminal at a connector. |
| • | Poor terminal to wire connection--Some conditions which fall under
this description are poor crimps, poor solder joints, crimping over the wire insulation
rather than the wire itself and corrosion in the wire to terminal contact area, etc. |
| • | Wire insulation which is rubbed through--This causes an intermittent
short as the bare area touches other wiring or parts of the vehicle. |
Testing for Proper Terminal Contact
It is important to test terminal contact at the component and any inline connectors
before replacing a suspect component. Mating terminals must be inspected to ensure
good terminal contact. A poor connection between the male and female terminal at a
connector may be the result of contamination or deformation.
Contamination may be caused by the connector halves being improperly connected.
A missing or damaged connector seal, damage to the connector itself, or exposing the
terminals to moisture and dirt can also cause contamination. Contamination, usually
in the underhood or underbody connectors, leads to terminal corrosion, causing an
open circuit or intermittently open circuit.
Deformation is caused by probing the mating side of a connector terminal without
the proper adapter. Always use the J 35616
when probing connectors. Other causes of terminal deformation are improperly
joining the connector halves, or repeatedly separating and joining the connector halves.
Deformation, usually to the female terminal contact tang, can result in poor terminal
contact causing an open or intermittently open circuit.
Round Wire Connectors
Follow the procedure below to test terminal contact of Metri-Pack or 56 series
terminals. Refer to the J-38125
or the J 38125-4 Instruction Manual for terminal identification.
Follow the procedure below in order to test terminal contact.
- Separate the connector halves.
- Visually inspect the connector halves for contamination. Contamination
may result in a white or green build-up within the connector body or between terminals.
This causes high terminal resistance, intermittent contact, or an open circuit. An
underhood or underbody connector that shows signs of contamination should be replaced
in its entirety: terminals, seals, and connector body.
- Using an equivalent male terminal from the J-38125
, test that the retention force is significantly different between
a good terminal and a suspect terminal. Replace the female terminal in question.
Flat Wire (Dock and Lock) Connectors
There are no serviceable parts for flat wire (dock and lock) connectors on the
harness side or the component side.
Follow the procedure below in order to test terminal contact.
- Remove the component in question.
- Visually inspect each side of the connector for signs of contamination.
Avoid touching either side of the connector as oil from your skin may be a source
of contamination as well.
- Visually inspect the terminal bearing surfaces of the flat wire circuits
for splits, cracks, or other imperfections that could cause poor terminal contact.
Visually inspect the component side connector to ensure that all of the terminals
are uniform and free of damage or deformation.
- Insert the appropriate adapter from the J 42675
on the flat wire harness connector in order to test the circuit in
question.
