Which statement describes what an infinity reading on an ohmmeter indicates?

Prepare for the Automotive Service Technician Period 1 exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

An ohmmeter measures how much current flows through a path by applying a small test current and reading the resulting voltage. If there is no complete path for current—an open circuit, a disconnected lead, or a component with extremely high resistance—the meter cannot detect a finite resistance, so the display shows infinity (often shown as OL). This means the resistance is effectively greater than what the meter can measure. It’s not indicating zero resistance (that would be a short) and it doesn’t by itself prove the meter is failing; it just reflects an open or an extremely high resistance path.