Basic
Troubleshooting Guide

Customer
Problem Analysis Sheet

Basic
Inspection Procedure
Measuring
Condition of Electronic Parts' Resistance
The measured
resistance at high temperature after vehicle running may be high or low.
So all resistance must be measured at ambient temperature (20°C, 68°F),
unless stated otherwise.
The measured resistance in except for
ambient temperature (20°C, 68°F) is reference
value. |
Intermittent
Problem Inspection Procedure
Sometimes the most
difficult case in troubleshooting is when a problem symptom occurs but
does not occur again during testing. An example would be if a problem
appears only when the vehicle is cold but has not appeared when warm. In
this case, the technician should thoroughly make out a "Customer Problem
Analysis Sheet" and recreate (simulate) the environment and condition
which occurred when the vehicle was having the issue.
1. |
Clear Diagnostic Trouble Code
(DTC). |
2. |
Inspect connector connection, and check
terminal for poor connections, loose wires, bent, broken or corroded
pins, and then verify that the connectors are always securely
fastened.

|
3. |
Slightly shake the connector and wiring
harness vertically and
horizontally. |
4. |
Repair or replace the component that has a
problem. |
5. |
Verify that the problem has disappeared with
the road test. |
● Simulating
Vibration
1) |
Sensors and Actuators
: Slightly vibrate sensors, actuators or
relays with finger.
Strong vibration may break sensors,
actuators or
relays | |
2) |
Connectors and Harness
: Lightly shake the connector and wiring
harness vertically and then
horizontally. |
● Simulating
Heat
1) |
Heat components suspected of causing the
malfunction with a hair dryer or other heat source.
• |
DO NOT heat components to the
point where they may be
damaged. |
• |
DO NOT heat the ECM
directly. | | |
● Simulating Water
Sprinkling
1) |
Sprinkle water onto vehicle to simulate a
rainy day or a high humidity condition.
DO NOT sprinkle water directly into
the engine compartment or electronic
components. | |
● Simulating
Electrical Load
1) |
Turn on all electrical systems to simulate
excessive electrical loads (Radios, fans, lights, rear window
defogger, etc.). |
Connector
Inspection Procedure
1. |
Handling of Connector
A. |
Never pull on the wiring harness when
disconnecting connectors.

|
B. |
When removing the connector with a
lock, press or pull locking lever.

|
C. |
Listen for a click when locking
connectors. This sound indicates that they are securely
locked.

|
D. |
When a tester is used to check for
continuity, or to measure voltage, always insert tester
probe from wire harness side.

|
E. |
Check waterproof connector terminals
from the connector side. Waterproof connectors cannot be
accessed from harness side.

• |
Use a fine wire to prevent
damage to the
terminal. |
• |
Do not damage the terminal
when inserting the tester
lead. | | | |
2. |
Checking Point for Connector
A. |
While the connector is
connected:
Hold the connector, check connecting
condition and locking
efficiency. |
B. |
When the connector is
disconnected:
Check missed terminal, crimped
terminal or broken core wire by slightly pulling the wire
harness.
Visually check for rust,
contamination, deformation and
bend. |
C. |
Check terminal tightening
condition:
Insert a spare male terminal into a
female terminal, and then check terminal tightening
conditions. |
D. |
Pull lightly on individual wires to
ensure that each wire is secured in the terminal.

| |
3. |
Repair Method of Connector
Terminal
A. |
Clean the contact points using air gun
and/or shop rag.
Never use sand paper when
polishing the contact points, otherwise the contact
point may be
damaged. | |
B. |
In case of abnormal contact pressure,
replace the female
terminal. | |
Wire
Harness Inspection Procedure
1. |
Before removing the wire harness, check the
wire harness position and crimping in order to restore it
correctly. |
2. |
Check whether the wire harness is twisted,
pulled or loosened. |
3. |
Check whether the temperature of the wire
harness is abnormally high. |
4. |
Check whether the wire harness is rotating,
moving or vibrating against the sharp edge of a
part. |
5. |
Check the connection between the wire
harness and any installed part. |
6. |
If the covering of wire harness is damaged;
secure, repair or replace the
harness. |
Electrical
Circuit Inspection Procedure
● Check Open
Circuit
1. |
Procedures for Open Circuit
If an open circuit occurs (as seen in [FIG.
1]), it can be found by performing Step 2 (Continuity Check Method)
or Step 3 (Voltage Check Method) as shown below.

|
2. |
Continuity Check Method
When measuring for resistance, lightly
shake the wire harness above and below or side to
side. |
Specification
(Resistance)
1Ω or less → Normal
Circuit
1MΩ or Higher → Open
Circuit
|
A. |
Disconnect connectors (A), (C) and
measure resistance between connector (A) and (C) as shown in
[FIG. 2].
In [FIG.2.] the measured resistance of
line 1 and 2 is higher than 1MΩ and below 1 Ω respectively.
Specifically the open circuit is line 1 (Line 2 is normal). To
find exact break point, check sub line of line 1 as described
in next step.

|
B. |
Disconnect connector (B), and measure
for resistance between connector (C) and (B1) and between (B2)
and (A) as shown in [FIG. 3].
In this case the measured resistance
between connector (C) and (B1) is higher than 1MΩ and the
open circuit is between terminal 1 of connector (C) and
terminal 1 of connector (B1).

| |
3. |
Voltage Check Method
A. |
With each connector still connected,
measure the voltage between the chassis ground and terminal 1
of each connectors (A), (B) and (C) as shown in [FIG.
4].
The measured voltage of each connector
is 5V, 5V and 0V respectively. So the open circuit is
between connector (C) and (B).

| |
●
Check Short Circuit
1. |
Test Method for Short to Ground
Circuit
A. |
Continuity Check with Chassis
Ground |
If short to ground circuit occurs as shown
in [FIG. 5], the broken point can be found by performing Step 2
(Continuity Check Method with Chassis Ground) as shown
below.

|
2. |
Continuity Check Method (with Chassis
Ground)
Lightly shake the wire harness above
and below, or from side to side when measuring the
resistance. |
Specification
(Resistance)
1Ω or less → Short to Ground
Circuit
1MΩ or Higher → Normal
Circuit
|
A. |
Disconnect connectors (A), (C) and
measure for resistance between connector (A) and Chassis
Ground as shown in [FIG. 6].
The measured resistance of line 1 and
2 in this example is below 1 Ω and higher than 1MΩ
respectively. Specifically the short to ground circuit is line
1 (Line 2 is normal). To find exact broken point, check the
sub line of line 1 as described in the following
step.

|
B. |
Disconnect connector (B), and measure
the resistance between connector (A) and chassis ground, and
between (B1) and chassis ground as shown in [FIG.
7].
The measured resistance between
connector (B1) and chassis ground is 1Ω or less. The short to
ground circuit is between terminal 1 of connector (C) and
terminal 1 of connector (B1).

| |
Symptom
Troubleshooting Guide Chart
Main
symptom
|
Diagnostic
procedure
|
Also
check for
|
Unable to
start (Engine does not turn
over)
|
3. |
Inhibitor switch (A/T) or clutch start
switch (M/T) | |
|
Unable to
start (Incomplete
combustion)
|
2. |
Check the fuel
pressure |
3. |
Check the ignition
circuit |
4. |
Troubleshooting the immobilizer
system
(In case of immobilizer lamp
flashing) | |
•
|
Slipped or broken timing
belt |
|
Difficult to
start
|
2. |
Check the fuel
pressure |
3. |
Check the ECT sensor and circuit
(Check DTC) |
4. |
Check the ignition
circuit | |
|
Poor
idling (Rough, unstable or incorrect
Idle)
|
1. |
Check the fuel
pressure |
3. |
Check the long term fuel trim and
short term fuel trim
(Refer to CUSTOMER
DATASTREAM) |
4. |
Check the idle speed control circuit
(Check DTC) |
5. |
Inspect and test the Throttle
Body |
6. |
Check the ECT sensor and circuit
(Check DTC) | |
|
Engine
stall
|
2. |
Check the fuel
pressure |
3. |
Check the idle speed control circuit
(Check DTC) |
4. |
Check the ignition
circuit |
5. |
Check the CKPS Circuit (Check
DTC) | |
|
Poor
driving (Surge)
|
1. |
Check the fuel
pressure |
2. |
Inspect and test Throttle
Body |
3. |
Check the ignition
circuit |
4. |
Check the ECT Sensor and Circuit
(Check DTC) |
5. |
Test the exhaust system for a possible
restriction |
6. |
Check the long term fuel trim and
short term fuel trim (Refer to CUSTOMER
DATASTREAM) | |
|
Knocking
|
1. |
Check the fuel
pressure |
2. |
Inspect the engine
coolant |
3. |
Inspect the radiator and the electric
cooling fan |
|
|
Poor fuel
economy
|
1. |
Check customer's driving habitsIs
· A/C on full time or the defroster
mode on?
· Are tires at correct
pressure?
· Is excessively heavy load being
carried?
· Is acceleration too much, too
often? |
2. |
Check the fuel
pressure |
4. |
Test the exhaust system for a possible
restriction |
5. |
Check the ECT sensor and
circuit | |
|
Hard to
refuel (Overflow during
refueling)
|
1. |
Test the canister close
valve |
2. |
Inspect the fuel filler
hose/pipe
· Pinched, kinked or
blocked?
· Filler hose is
torn |
3. |
Inspect the fuel tank vapor vent hose
between the EVAP. canister and air
filter |
4. |
Check the EVAP.
canister | |
•
|
Malfunctioning gas station filling
nozzle (If this problem occurs at a specific gas station
during
refueling) | |