Wiring diagrams are like road maps. You wouldn't take a cross-country trip without consulting a map or a GPS, would you? But many techs will dive blindly into an electrical diagnosis without first consulting the schematic. Unfortunately, wiring schematics don't come with a GPS navigation option. (The one neat exception I've seen is the OEM Mazda diagrams in MotoLogic. They are interactive and show current flow in the circuit under different key positions.) No, for the most part we have to do it the way techs have been doing it for years. And you'll find it isn't all that difficult if you read through and follow all the steps. Just like reading a road map, the first place to start is with the diagram information, providing you with the position, arrangement of devices and terminals. OE diagrams often are all-inclusive, that is they show everything on one big diagram that is broken up into segments. Most aftermarket service information providers provide simpler diagrams, referred to as block diagrams, that show only the components/wiring needed by an individual circuit. Most block diagrams also start with the power source at the top of the page and follow the path to ground, ending at the bottom of the page. This is followed by a color code chart, so you'll know what colors the diagram abbreviations are referring to.
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