Automotive Wire Tracer 6–42V DC, Open & Short Circuit Finder for Cars & Trucks

Good diagnostic tool for finding a wire in a bundle or for determining if a wire is broken.
Leads on the transmitter are 18" long, which may be limiting if you needed to test a long wire that can't be manipulated.
Receiver does a good job of picking up the signal from the transmitter - there are 3 sensitivity levels so, sensitivity can be adjusted.
Kit comes with fuse adapters that fit the 4 usual automotive fuse sizes, standard, mini, mini low profile and micro fuses.
Comes with 2x 9v batteries so ready to use out of the box.
Not quite self explanatory enough to use without the manual (for someone who has not used this type of circuit tester before - although I have used RJ11/RJ45 toners before), but after consulting the manual, the tester was easy enough to use.

This VSTM Wire Tracer Automotive Electrical Open & Short Finder, Circuit Breaker Finder, Circuit Tester, Fault Probe Cable Tracker, DC 6-42V Electrical Circuit Diagnostic Tool (Black) is really easy to use.

This saved me a ton of time on a recent project where I was re-wiring my boat and needed to trace wires to different areas to make sure I hooked everything back up correctly.

This is about as simple as it gets... just clip the transmitter onto a wire, then is the receiver to find it. The tip on the receiver is small and flexible so it's easy to get into tight spaces. There are 3 sensitivity levels so it's functional even when you may not have excellent signal. The led lights that display status are nice, but I mostly rely on the sound.

This does not come with a carrying case to keep everything together in storage/travel, but I'll just use the box it came in for now.

Overall this is a good value for a functional wire tracer! I would order it again.

If you've ever done car repairs and ran into electrical issues, you know how much of a headache that can be. I dread electrical issues so when I saw the opportunity to try this product out, I jumped at it and I'm really glad I did. First in the box is a transmitter with 2 alligator clips that has an option to test either continuity or open/short in a circuit. Included is also multiple adapters to insert into a fuse box to test for shorts there as well using the alligator clips to connect the adapters to the transmitter. So this transmitter is what you'll use to find a faulty circuit. Then there is the receiver which has a flexible arm that traces the wires to find the actual short. This flexible arm is about 7 inches long and makes it really easy to snake into tight and hard to reach places. The tip of the flexible arm is what you use to touch (perpendicular to the wire) and trace along the wire. The receiver has 3 sensitivity settings as well; low/medium/high. This is an important function because if you start out using too high a setting, it can cause the receiver to pick up nearby wires. Start with the lowest setting and as long as you are getting a tone, you're good. The light's on the receiver light up to indicate the strength of the signal but all that really matters is if the lights are green (open) or red (short). I did some quick tests with batteries just to play around with this for a few and was pleasantly surprised with how well this device did. Thankfully vehicle does not have any electrical issues at this moment (knock on wood) but when/if they come in the future, I already have less dread about the job now that I have this tool. I'm actually kind of looking forward to it. For $40, this will be a lifesaver the next time I need to diagnose my car. It will save me from endless headaches and wasted time. Worth every penny.

Important note, this is for DC current only. That means cars and not your house. Houses are AC current.

Nice kit comes with accessories to test a fuse box as well. Very effective and easy to use to help find issues

Works as expected. Good item for the price

I have a 67 Volvo 1800s with some pretty questionable restoration work especially regarding the electrical system. I am currently working on getting the overdrive working again, and this tool helped me rule out a couple of electrical causes very easily. The set comes with a receiver and transmitter. The transmitter is connected to the "end" of the circuit you are tracing which could be anywhere, and the reciever is used along the wire you think it's connected to so you can find a short or incorrect connection. The set includes the 2 9v batteries you need as well as several fuse leaders that weren't useful on my old Volvo but would be great on a more modern car.

it includes allot of the extra adapters and its way better than using multimeter. As with every tester read up the instructions and basic understanding of electrical theory is required. This makes easier than standard multimeter method as it includes all the fuse connections. Definitely a must in mechanic toolbox for fraction of the price.

Este apartado es muy buen rastreador de cable y tiene muy buena precisión. Y por ese precio está aún mejor. Me gusta.

I'm an ASE Master Tech that has been specializing in automotive electronics for decades. I have drawers full of homemade electronic testers, as well as testers from other service fields that have been modified for automotive use. Every time I see a new test gadget, I just have to try it out and see if it makes my life easier. This setup is basically a signal generator that allows you to inject a tracking signal into a wire and trace it to a short or open circuit. Essentially, it's a dowsing rod for electrical problems. I have a similar tester from the alarm industry. However, this is much more suitable for automotive use. I really like that they included adapters for injecting a signal into a blade-type fused circuit. I used to have to solder up wires to old burned-out fuses for this. This has some other nifty features, and it all works quite well. I spent much more time and money to have the same abilities just a few years ago. This item belongs in every electrical tech's toolbox. Keeping this one,

This automotive short and open circuit finder arrived with a strong first impression and appears thoughtfully packaged for anyone doing electrical diagnostics on vehicles. The kit supports 6V to 42V systems and includes detailed instructions, which the reviewer appreciated since the tool has multiple functions that may require some setup and learning. One of the most interesting features mentioned was the open circuit finder, which is designed to help locate wiring issues without tearing into harnesses or disassembling parts of the vehicle. Although that feature was not demonstrated in this video, it was clearly the part I am most excited to try.

Inside the box, the kit includes batteries for both units, several fuse adapters in different sizes, inline fuse box connectors, and alligator clips for quick connections during testing. The tool feels nicely made with a solid weight to it, giving the impression of decent build quality. The video focused mainly on the unboxing and included components rather than a full test, but I plan to use it on an older Cadillac project in the future. Overall, the tool is a promising diagnostic kit with useful accessories and a professional first impression for DIY automotive electrical troubleshooting.

Had a short in my motorcycle taillight. Would blow fuse as soon as turned on. Decide to give this a try and found short in one of the taillights. Took about an hour. There is a learning curve

I recently used this circuit tester to track down a stubborn wiring fault in my truck, and it worked exactly as described. The adjustable sensitivity made it incredibly easy to pinpoint the exact breakpoint without having to strip any insulation or tear my dashboard apart. The unit feels solid and built to last through heavy garage use, offering incredible value for the money compared to expensive shop diagnostics. I really appreciated the clear LED lights and beeping tones—the transmitter’s flashing red light for shorts and green for open circuits takes all the confusion out of complex wiring tasks. It’s also great for quick continuity checks around the house; seeing that steady green light on the clips gives you immediate peace of mind. For anyone who dreads chasing electrical gremlins, this tool makes the whole experience much faster and surprisingly stress-free.

I picked this up to help diagnose some wiring issues and it has already saved me a ton of time. The tracer is very effective at finding breaks or shorts without having to tear apart the entire wire loom. It is sensitive enough to pick up the signal through thick insulation and plastic trim panels, which is exactly what you need for modern vehicle diagnostics. The build quality feels solid enough for regular garage use and the flexible probe makes it easy to reach into tight corners around the dash or engine bay.

The tones are clear and the adjustable sensitivity helps narrow down the exact location of a fault rather than just giving a general area. It is a much more efficient way to work compared to poking every wire with a test light.

A great troubleshooting tool for the garage! I ordered this to supplement the other electrical tools in my garage. It was easy to use and was able to locate the faulty wiring in my old Ford Ranger quickly. It was accurate in finding the bad wiring. It is a versatile tool that offers different connectors to trace the wires. It is a great value for the money and durability should not be an issue as it looks to be well built.

I have to admit this is one of those tools that makes you wonder why you waited so long to buy one. I do a lot of my own troubleshooting on generators, vehicles, and other equipment, and that usually means dragging out a multi-meter, chasing wires, checking continuity, and spending more time than I want trying to narrow down where the problem actually is. After using this tool several times now, I can say it has made that whole process faster and easier.

This is not the kind of tool you reach for every single day, but when you do need it, it can save a lot of aggravation. That is exactly how this has been working out for me. I have already used it multiple times, and each time it made quick work of the job. The biggest test for me was tracing a circuit from the back of a full-size pickup truck all the way to the front, and it did that very clearly. The tone was easy to hear, the signal was easy to follow, and it gave me a much better sense of direction than trying to do the same job the slow way with a meter and guesswork.

I also like that it is a dedicated solution for this type of diagnostic work instead of trying to force another tool into doing something it was not really designed for. A multi-meter is still essential, and I am always going to keep one around, but this does a different job. It helps you move through wire tracing and circuit fault finding much more efficiently, especially when you are trying to locate an open or short somewhere inside a longer run. That is where it starts to earn its keep.

In my photos you can see what comes in the package, including the receiver, transmitter, batteries, leads, and accessories. It is a pretty straightforward setup, and I was happy to see that it did not take a lot of time to figure out. That is important with a tool like this, because when you are dealing with an electrical issue, the last thing you want is a diagnostic tool that adds confusion instead of reducing it. This one was easy enough to get going with, and once I used it the first time, the rest came naturally.

I also like the overall size and shape. The receiver is comfortable to hold, and the flexible probe is helpful when you are working around tighter spots or awkward wiring paths. In my photos of the tool by itself, you can get a good look at the form factor, and I think the design is pretty well thought out for automotive and equipment use. It feels purpose-built without being bulky.

The tone is one of the biggest strengths here. Some tools like this technically work, but the audible feedback is weak or annoying enough that it slows you down. This one was easy to hear, and that made a difference when tracing longer sections. If you are under a dash, leaning over a fender, or working around a vehicle in a garage with background noise, that clear audible feedback helps a lot. I also found the visual indicators useful as a quick confirmation while tracking the signal.

Another thing I liked is that this did not feel like a cheap gimmick. There are a lot of specialty diagnostic tools that sound great on paper, then disappoint once you actually start using them on a real problem. This one has simply worked every time. I have not had to fight with it, second guess it, or repeat the same test over and over because the results were inconsistent. That consistency is a big part of why I have already moved it into my vehicle electrical kit permanently.

If I have one real complaint, it is that I wish it came with a storage solution. A case would have been nice. This is the kind of tool that makes a lot of sense to keep together with its accessories, and while that is not a deal breaker, I do think a case would have made the overall package feel more complete. That said, I already had a small electrical kit to keep it in, so it was easy enough for me to work around that.

So overall, I think this is a very solid tool for anyone who does their own electrical troubleshooting on vehicles, trailers, generators, or other 12V and low-voltage equipment. It is one of those tools that can save you enough time and frustration on a single job to make you glad you bought it. If you do this kind of work even semi-regularly, it is easy to appreciate. Between the easy setup, clear signal, useful accessories, and dependable performance, this has become a permanent part of my electrical toolbox.

Pros:
Made tracing opens and shorts much faster than using only a multi-meter
Clear audible tone that is easy to hear while working
Signal was easy to follow over a long wire run
Straightforward to set up and use
Good assortment of included leads and accessories
Flexible probe helps in tighter areas
Compact enough to keep in an automotive electrical kit
Has worked consistently every time I have used it

Cons:
Price may be a little high compared to some other similar-looking options
No storage case included
Not a tool everyone will use often, so value depends on your needs

VSTM Wire Tracer Automotive Electrical Open & Short Finder, Circuit Breaker Finder
I've been working on an old truck and I have limited documentation. This helps me find which fuse in the box is related to the circuit I'm working on. It's a big time saver.
There are three sensitivity modes and I find them very useful. The tester is accurate enough for my application.
There are multiple jumpers included so you can connect directly to the fuse box if needed. Good value for me.

The VSTM Automotive Electrical Wire Tracer and Circuit Tester arrived promptly and well packaged. I really like this tool, it is very versatile and easy to use. If you work with wiring on cars the time saving benefits of the VSTM wire tracer are obvious. This tool will save you time as well as your sanity when chasing electrical wiring gremlins. Adding the different fuse box jumpers is a good touch as well as is the flexible probe tip. Another thoughtful touch is the sound sensitivity settings. All in all just a very well thought out product and a good value for your money. This is the kind of tool that pays for itself the first time you use it. They even include the 9V batteries so you can get right to work!

I recently got my hands on this wire tracer and it's been a game changer for my weekend DIY projects. As someone who enjoys tinkering with gadgets, having a reliable tool to track down electrical issues is a must. This circuit tester is straightforward to use, even if you're not a professional mechanic. It's helped me quickly find and fix open circuits in my car and around the house. The design is intuitive, and the ability to work with DC 6-42V makes it versatile for various tasks. I've seen reviews where others mentioned its accuracy, and I can vouch for that too. It pinpointed a tricky short in my car's wiring, saving me time and frustration. The compact size is a bonus as it fits neatly in my toolbox. If you're into home or auto repairs, this tool is worth considering. It's one of those gadgets that you didn't know you needed until you have it, and then you wonder how you managed without it.

Popped out my fuse, and used this immediately to pick up the signal. Had to crawl under the car (of course that's where the wire was broken) and trace the bundle, but I found the break way quicker than I would have manually. Worth the cost just in the time saved to find this one problem, and now I have a tool that will let me find problems in the future! It's a pretty well designed system, you can drop it in place of a fuse, or you can put it across a switch, then just follow the signal until it changes. I didn't have any shorts to fix, but I simulated one, and it picked that up as well. This is going to be a useful part of my toolkit for car work.

I got this mainly to do some wiring on my boat. The wires are not clearly color coded and I need to be able to figure out which wire at the switch panel at the front of the boat goes to which wire in the engine bay at the back. So I am using this to trace wires which run behind the side panel.
This device is very simple, the instructions are clear & very helpful.
I tested it once on a phone cord (Vid Attached) and have used in the boat several times. The longest wire I have traced was about 15 feet long and it was still able to identify it with a strong signal. It is very accurate, its easy to identify which wire it is alerting on. This has already saved me a lot of time because I didn't have to remove the side panel so I think this is a great value. I'm really only using it for the tracing function but its a very versatile device that can also identify open/short circuits. Overall functionality is excellent, highly recommended.

I didn’t buy this for myself so much as I bought it as a very obvious hint for my husband after half the “extras” in my car stopped working post audio and camera install. We’d already checked fuses and everything looked fine, so something deeper was clearly going on. Well…hint received, because he used this and actually tracked down the issue and fixed it, and now I have my mirror controls and steering wheel audio buttons back like a civilized human. From what he said, it made finding the problem way easier than guessing or tearing everything apart. If you’re dealing with wiring gremlins, this thing apparently saves a lot of time and frustration…or at least finally gets your husband to fix it.