Testing For INTERMITTENTS & Poor Connections

1999 GMC Forward Control 5.7 R, AutomaticSECTION Testing For INTERMITTENTS & Poor Connections
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

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. See TESTING FOR PROPER TERMINAL CONTACTΒ .
  • 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, 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.
  • See INDUCING INTERMITTENT FAULT CONDITIONSΒ  in order to duplicate the conditions required in order to verify the complaint.
  • See TESTING FOR ELECTRICAL INTERMITTENTSΒ  for test procedures to detect intermittent open, high resistance, short to ground, and short to voltage conditions.
  • See SCAN TOOL SNAPSHOT PROCEDUREΒ  for advanced intermittent diagnosis.
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When to See a Mechanic

Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:

  • β€’ You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
  • β€’ Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
  • β€’ The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
  • β€’ You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
  • β€’ You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.