What do we like for automotive electrical troubleshooting?

My multimeter has quit working so now I need to get a replacement. I'm looking for recommendations from the hive.

It will do general duty making AC voltage measurements as well as non-automotive DC measurements troubleshooting small electronics. 

Most of the automotive work is newer cars, so troubleshooting and testing coils, sensors, and lighting, but I also work on snowmobiles, small engines, boats and other things with engines (and maybe points). 
 

I know fluke is the go to for DVMs, but I'm hoping to stay under $100, but would go higher for the right features (extra long leads, troubleshooting functions, etc).

I saw this one on the hammer store website: Meter with tach

I like to keep a good digital meter and a cheap analog meter around.

Digital meter does almost everything, especially around sensitive computer stuff.  I have a good Fluke meter for that.  The reason I keep an analog meter is for some 12v testing.  Digital meters take a half second or so to display voltage.  Really annoying when testing a turn signal circuit.

Between my Fluke digital, my freebie HF analog, and a test light, there isn't much I can't diagnose.  

I find sacrificing a goat is helpful.

I would like one that would buzz or beep when it has voltage across the probes, 

also some way to tell it  is an open circuit , 

either  Binky or the old Wheeler Dealer show had one like that......

Power Probe III

Does what has been asked so far. They have a new one but I use the III for work.

https://www.powerprobetek.com/product-category/circuit-testers-new-new/

Spending some quality time with it today sorting out power windows and a convertible top in a '65 Thunderbird.

good dvom, test light and a power probe.

In reply to ShawnG :

The power probe also lets you supply power to the circuit, right? 

I think that is the one I borrowed (or one like it) in the past to troubleshoot electrical issues on an outboard motor. 

No Time said:

I saw this one on the hammer store website: Meter with tach

 

I have that model, it's pretty decent. Definitely not a Fluke, but much better than the ten dollar paperweight they also sell.

In reply to No Time :

Yes, hook it to the battery and the clip lead next to the meter supplies ground.

Push the switch forward and it sends +12v through the probe tip. Pull the switch back and it sends ground through the probe tip.

The probe tip and all accessory leads have conventional banana jacks on them so you can daisy-chain your standard multimeter into the system. It also comes with a ton of adapter leads, wire piercing probes and back-probe connectors. I use it with my MAC multimeter which is a Fluke in a different case.

It's the most useful thing I've ever found for troubleshooting electrical systems. I bought the big kit which includes the ECT2000 unit. The ECT2000 pings a signal down a wire and you use a hand-held receiver to find where the break in the wire is.

I hardly ever use the ECT2000 but when I've needed it, it's been very handy.

I use 12V test light, old analog Radio Shack meter, and Power Probes.

AutoNerdz has some pretty impressive Picoscope kits that are great for really in depth troubleshooting, but they're well past the budget. A decent digital multimeter and Power Probe type setup are good budget tools.

BTW, you can buy sets of extra long leads and neato clippy ends, wire piercers, and stuff on Amazon for not much. I've found them to be really helpful - I never seem to have enough hands when testing electrical in the car. Down side is they don't fit the $10 HF meter, which I've got several of as freebies. I brought my old RadioShack meter out of retirement so I can use the lead set. 

For basic voltage testing I find the cheapo meter to be enough in the car and the house. More sensitive sensor measurements and stuff, or higher functions are a bit of a stretch for it. If my RS meter were to die I'd look into a low-end Fluke as a replacement. Biggest selling point for me is replaceable fuses or resettable breakers if I overpower it or hook up the resistance measurement to a power circuit. I've smoked a few cheap meters when something was live and I didn't know it.

I have a Fluke 85 and a Snap-On Modis - plenty for anything I get into.  Couple that with some cloned Chinabay OEM scan tools for whatever I am working on and I am usually good to go.  

+1 on the power probe. It's crazy useful to say... "this component has no power going to it... does it work if I apply power?" Makes simple diag much easier.

Good tools are better then buying the wrong parts, this is not the time to cheap out. 

My main two tools are the Fluke  87 and a powerprobe. Between the two of them I can get 90% of what I need done, a small lab scope is also nice and I work on the line at a major new car dealer.

Paul B

Lots of good info and suggestions.

I may need to reevaluate the budget or make a series of purchases to get the power probe and a decent DVM. 

My son is anxious to continue troubleshooting the P0138 code on his SX4, and wants to check the wiring, so I may buy him a $50 meter to get him started and then expand the trouble shooting arsenal gradually. 

looking on Ebay Power Probes are priced at $20 to $400

what features do you need  and  which is worth buying for hobby use ?

Thanks

In reply to Donebrokeit :

I can go on to amazon and get a multmeter with 4000+ positive ratings for 35$. Or I can spend 200$ on a fluke. Fluke is great, and highly trusted. for general household and auto diagnosis, the 35$ is going to be fine. I'll save my 165$.

californiamilleghia said:

looking on Ebay Power Probes are priced at $20 to $400

what features do you need  and  which is worth buying for hobby use ?

Thanks

Long leads (from the battery to wherever you're working)  and the ability to apply power and ground.