Stupid mistake - how do I fix?
05-27-2023, 10:13 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Stupid mistake - how do I fix?
Stupidly put the red and black terminals of multimeter into the red and black connectors on reverse lights when they were on (don’t ask!). Of course, they immediately went out. Question is how do I fix it? Did I blow the bulbs, blow a fuse, or something worse? All other lights appear to work correctly.
I should note this is not my 997 but an old BMW X3. Assume the concept is the same though.
I should note this is not my 997 but an old BMW X3. Assume the concept is the same though.
Last edited by Patrick E; 05-27-2023 at 10:20 PM.
05-27-2023, 10:26 PM
#2
Rennlist Member
It is not "stupid", it is a mistake. The problem is with the setting you were using on your VOM. You were probably trying to measure voltage but the meter was set on Ohms -continuity/resistance. Since the VOM has a bunch of possible setting, this is way easy to do. On Ohms or current, you introduced a direct short. The fuse in the car took care of this. Replace it when you find the correct fuse box and fuse. The VOM may have also blown a fuse. Fix that also. Stupid would occur if you did this 5 times in a row.
You're good.
You're good.
The following 6 users liked this post by Floyd540:
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05-28-2023, 08:08 PM
#3
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
It is not "stupid", it is a mistake. The problem is with the setting you were using on your VOM. You were probably trying to measure voltage but the meter was set on Ohms -continuity/resistance. Since the VOM has a bunch of possible setting, this is way easy to do. On Ohms or current, you introduced a direct short. The fuse in the car took care of this. Replace it when you find the correct fuse box and fuse. The VOM may have also blown a fuse. Fix that also. Stupid would occur if you did this 5 times in a row.
You're good.
You're good.
The following 2 users liked this post by Patrick E:
Hella-Buggin' (05-29-2023),
jbkusa (05-28-2023)
05-28-2023, 09:56 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
Look at it this way, maybe the fuse is excited to finally get to do its job and receive the well earned praise for doing so. Fuses are your friends, it is all the connections to and from them that are problematic.
Be kind to yourself. (and others)
Be kind to yourself. (and others)
The following users liked this post:
LimeyBoy (05-28-2023)
05-28-2023, 10:39 PM
#5
Stupidly put the red and black terminals of multimeter into the red and black connectors on reverse lights when they were on (don’t ask!). Of course, they immediately went out. Question is how do I fix it? Did I blow the bulbs, blow a fuse, or something worse? All other lights appear to work correctly.
I should note this is not my 997 but an old BMW X3. Assume the concept is the same though.
I should note this is not my 997 but an old BMW X3. Assume the concept is the same though.