I'd twisted a few broken wires, taped them up and got lights working but of all the activities due to installing a diesel in a gas body and having every detail as it came from the diesel body the wiring confused me most.

It took weeks to remove the wiring from the diesel because each system had to be removed and installed in the gas body one system at a time. Day after day I'd go over the process I'd done the previous day to check and make sure I hadn't done things wrong.

By the time I finished I believed that it was all made perfect sense. Somehow along the way I learned how some of the systems work and why they work that way.

Consider that I only worked with two 30+ year old cars I can't imagine jumping on a complicated wiring issue with one of the new ones.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

on newer cars - its a bit easier as modules talk on bus networks - you need to own a decent oscope to see whats going on. And using basic methods of 12V DC diagnostics you can find the root of the issue. - You will need to understand how network broadcast works though.

Even then - some cars literally throw you curve balls left and right - e.g. mazda RX8 - whose service literature is not that common and have a lot of changes in the model years. Or the first productions of the US made mazda 6 with the mitsubishi ECU and TCU, Ford ABS, Ford PATS and some bosch some mitsubishi smaller electrics - the information available for them online is incorrect. - These cars have 2 separate can buses like Fords - and funny enough face the same grounding problems as the later ford sedans too.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Below are a few things to look at. Something to remember, you won't be doing electronic design in an automotive environment so don't get too hung up internal circuit details just yet.

You do need to know in general what electronic components are and how they operate. You don't need to memorize formulas, resistor color codes or " the right hand rule ". Lazy or unskilled teachers rely on students memorizing formulas because it is easier to test for than " Does this person grasp the concepts set forth. " Real life is open book and a person that understands concepts will be more productive than one that has the ability to memorize something just long enough to stumble through a test.

The key to reading a schematic / wiring diagram is knowing how the individual parts behave.



Forrest Mims

Look for his books

Getting Started in Electronics

Engineer's Mini-Notebook


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Apollo AGC Part 1: Restoring the computer that put man on the Moon

So far there are 5 parts to this, I don't expect another part for a while since each person is now independently working on a piece of the project.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KSahAoOLdU

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Techmoan

He explores vintage tech. Older stuff is understandable so it is worth a look

https://www.youtube.com/user/Techmoan/videos?disable_polymer=1


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bigclive

Does teardowns and reverse engineering on simple items.

https://www.youtube.com/user/bigclivedotcom/videos?disable_polymer=1


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Vintage disco buckle light. (with schematic)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tf7x02AyRA


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Cheap eBay dimmer module vs compliant dimmer. (Schematics)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w71Qr1ygB_Y

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Autopsy on exploded remote control socket.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVkEDduVQJA


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Faulty British General circuit breaker autopsy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcxISVcIpCA


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Good versus evil socket testers. (with schematics)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_3FCAbNyMM


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Inside a cheap eBay LED power supply. (With arcing flaw.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcuk8wPinkM


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Inside a night angel illuminated socket cover. (schematic)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=225LhPh5uxk


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Inside a REAL Snap Power UL certified night light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqBZQ23TaZg

Just an update, I found a YouTuber by the name of Schrodingers Box, he basically teaches all of the systems and logic of a modern gasoline engine.

His fuel trim video is a masterpiece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WnM_NsOtd8

I've learned more in his 2 part video than days of studying scanner danner, he breaks the information down very well. I finally understand fuel trims now.

I plan to watch all of his educational content. It's a game changer for me, it just "clicks".

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.