Using a multimeter
 

Ok I went out and bought a multi meter. Being electrically uninclined, I was wondering of you guys could explain how to use it for finding grounds and checking voltage, or point me to a thread. I searched but there's hundreds of posts and I can't recall where I saw what I'm looking for.

Thanks

Multi meter
 

Try it out on the battery. Neg(black) to neg post, pos(red) to positive post. Turn to DC lowest setting. You'll see @ 12.5 +/- volts. To check voltage at any terminal/wire, eg TPS etc, insert red into connector, while black is grounded. I ground the black right into the negative clamp on the battery. It will give you the voltage at that wire. Check for continuity (see if circuit/wire is broken). Cross the pos & neg pins of the multimeter and turn the dial until you see a reading. You can then put one pin on the wire/circuit in question, and the other pin on the other end of the wire/circuit. If reading, continuity through wire/circuit. You can also check for a circuit that may be draining the system. Disconnect the neg bat terminal and place the meter in line. One pin to cable and one to the post. If there is a drin it will register, then you can start pulling fuses until the meter drops.
I probably have instructions at home if you need them, or just read up on the info in the pack when you purchased it. Let me know, I can fax them if you want.

BIG help. Thank-you Turbonut.

How basic of an expanation do you need?

Do you understand the concepts of voltage, resistance, and current?

Those are typically the three things you'd measure with a meter. Do you need a link expalining what they are, or are you just looking for a higher level "set it to this mode and look for this reading" explanation?

I think I'm OK now, thanks....

what I'd REALLY like to know is how adding a ground to my boost sensor CREATED a hesitation and full throttle power loss - and I ground the correct wire 100%.

Man I couldn't own this car without this board!

Just to double check, put the + probe of your meter on the ground you added (as close to the sensor as possible) and the - probe on your - battery terminal. Try and read the voltage across it.

If you get a non-zero reading you might have a bad ground. There could be a break in the wire you used (through no fault of your own) or something else non-obvious wrong.