The Ten Step Troubleshooting Process

This lesson focuses on a particular electrical failure that needs to be found and fixed. Rather than a typical Guess and Check, (sometimes known as Hit Or Miss) method, we will apply the Ten Step Troubleshooting Process, or TSTP.

The TSTP is a logical series of steps that can be adapted to nearly any troubleshooting problem, and followed for an efficient and effective equipment fix.

The Problem

You're a technician at a small gravel extraction company.

A loader with seemingly dead circuits has come in.

Earlier today, before the loader was brought in for repair...

The operator noticed that the hydraulic oil high-temperature warning light was on, and he stopped the machine and went for a coffee break. Afterward, when he restarted his machine, the light was off.

So, he resumed work.

The high temperature light soon came back on, and then went off almost immediately, along with the work lights and the lights in the operator's gauge cluster. The entire circuit seems to be dead.

Experience To The Rescue

This isn't your first day on the job, and you know exactly what these symptoms sound like - a blown fuse. Sure enough, when you check the fuse box, this circuit's fuse has obviously blown… violently.

It's easy to replace the fuse, but considering the scorch marks, the fuse almost certainly blew for a reason. It looks like there is a short somewhere in this circuit, and as long as it exists, replacement fuses will just blow as well. You're going to need to find and fix the short circuit - it's troubleshooting time!

Step 1
Define The Problem

Our loader problem is a textbook case of "No Go".

Specifically, it's almost certainly a short circuit. This will modify our troubleshooting process slightly.