Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) A6 Electrical/Electronic SystemsGeneral Electrical/Electronic System DiagnosisMedium
A technician is using service information to locate a specific electrical connector (C105) on a wiring diagram. The diagram shows connector C105 as a 12-pin connector, but the technician finds multiple 12-pin connectors in the general area indicated. What is the most effective way to positively identify the correct connector?
- ADisconnect each 12-pin connector one by one and see if the fault changes.
- BUse a multimeter to perform a resistance check across the connector pins.
- CRefer to the component location views in the service information for C105.
- DCheck the wire colors entering and exiting the connector against the wiring diagram.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Refer to the component location views in the service information for C105.
Component location views (often called 'connector views' or 'splice location diagrams') are specifically designed to help technicians physically locate and identify connectors by showing their exact position on the vehicle, often with illustrations or photographs, and sometimes pin-out diagrams. Wire colors can be helpful but are not always unique, and blindly disconnecting components is inefficient and potentially damaging.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This is inefficient and can potentially cause new fault codes or damage, especially in complex electronic systems.
- B. A resistance check isn't the primary method for physical identification; it's for circuit testing after identification.
- D. Wire colors can be helpful but might not be unique enough to distinguish between similar connectors in close proximity.
Service Information Connector Identification
Using vehicle service manuals and diagrams to accurately locate and identify specific electrical connectors within a vehicle's wiring harness.
- Wiring diagrams show connector names (e.g., C105) and pinouts.
- Component location views provide physical location and appearance.
- Wire colors and gauges can aid in verification.
- Pin-out diagrams show specific circuits within the connector.
Memory trick: MAP it out, then MATCH the pins.