I am using a CEN-TECH. Basic DIYer multi-meter. Has a dial where I can change different settings. Nothing fancy at all but I have used it on different jobs like speaker building and low voltage testing.

Where would be a good place to touch for ground near the center console? I have a feeling I am possibly not making a good ground connection...

I also read in another forum that for testing I could bypass the brake switch by jumping the two connectors with a paper clip. Specifically the green/white and white/green connectors. Do you have any insight into that?

This might be a REALLY dumb question, but does the car have to be running for these tests to work?

Thanks again - this is all greatly appreciated!

 

no car does not need to be running for these tests. key in on position ideally tho. park release is active incase you might need to push the vehicle running or not. i dont know the wiring for the brake switch vs the park release actuator. 2 contacts at the brake switch will be for applying power to the actuator and one of the wires at the actuator will come from there the other wire at the actuator will be neutral/chassis ground. also arguably anything that's bare metal on the chassis itself is a suitable ground neutral. your positive connections are all wired and your neutral is generally just connected to the chassis somewhere.