hey everyone. I just bought a multimeter and decided I want to test out if my spark plug wires are still good. Honda does not recommend the resistance to be more than 25,000 ohms. When I connected the multimeter to each end of the spark plug wire, it gives me a reading like 1.2 or something. The multimeter has certain settings: 20k, 2k, 2000... so if I am on 20k and it has the reading 1.0, then it is 20,000? .Can someone teach me how to use this ohm meter or which setting it is supposed to be on? thanks for the help.

 

If you have a 200K switch, put it on that. You should get a reading something like .XXXX
If you're looking for something in the 25K ohm range, your reading should come out to be .25XX on the 200K switch. You can also use the 2M switch, but you're reading won't be as accurate. Basically, just put it on the next higher up switch than the amount you need. I have to use these damn things all day long.

 

when you connect your resistor (plug wire) start on the highest setting on your meter. Then click down to a lower setting until you get a OL on the screen. Then go back up one setting and that number on the screen is the resistance value your plug wire is.

 

auto range is great.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fe519 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... so if I am on 20k and it has the reading 1.0, then it is 20,000?</TD></TR></TABLE>If you're on the 20k range and it says 1.0, that's 1.0 k-ohms or 1000 ohms.

 

but wont that be 2000 ohms? since the setting is at 20K? If the meter is set a 20K and reads 1.0, would that be 20,000 ohms? thats for your patience

 

Well, I've never seen a DMM that reads like that. Probably the first digit of your display won't go higher than 2, & that's where it goes into over-range. Or maybe it can't go higher than 19.999 so they call that a range of 20k. I bet ALL the ranges start with a digit 2?

 

no auto-range?

 

nope

 

Try this... It's probably got a '20volt dc' range. Set that & check your car battery. If I'm right it'll read 13.0; if you're right it'll read 6.5...

 

when I get stuck I RTFM (read the focking manual)