Is there anyway to check if my cars Gauges needs something replaced or are slipping? When i first got the car before some work was done under the hood when i accelerated the mph would stay at zero when i was driving and then like shoot up to what i was at my car kinda idles rough and my rpms drop like my car wants to die out when i stop at stop signs. My oil gauge is usually all over the place but my car has overheated twice since ive had it and been replaced inbetween, its beening changed right now. Im not even sure about my battery my starter is being replaced right now cause im pretty sure thats why my car would freeze up but my battery gauge seems fine, just to be safe i wanna buy something to check how my battery is althought at the gas station when my car starter locked the guys charged it before they tapped it to try to get it started. Thoughts?

 

Basically you need to know or learn electrical troubleshooting. And have the right tools.

The right tools are a multimeter and a *factory* service manual set which would include wiring diagrams. You can order the factory service manual set from a dealer or here: http://www.helminc.com

Haynes has a book on basic wiring troubleshooting...
http://www.themotorbookstore.com/el.html

Then the factory service manuals usually explain how to use a multimeter. Or here is tons of instructions...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...imeter&aqi=g10

Then once you get the right tools for the job, just start with one problem at a time. Use the troubleshooting instructions in the factory service manual for each specific problem. This will tell you what to test, where to test, how to test, what the test results should be, and where to go from there. (Test something else or replace a part/fix a problem.)