I'm having an electrical issues that I think is related to a particular outlet. The outlet does not work, but I don't know if the outlet is the problem or if it's the line going to the outlet. Is there a way to check if the outlet is the problem with a multimeter WITHOUT removing the outlet?
Actually yes......take the cover off of the outlet, and set your multimeter to AC Volts, select a range to measure that is higher than 100 V.
Place the ground probe (black) on the screwhead on the side of the outlet that has the white wire connected to it, and place the red probe on the opposite side of the recepticle contacting the screw with the black wire connected to it......your meter should read in excess of 110 VAC. If you get no reading place the probes carefully on the wires connected to each recepticle screw......if you still get no voltage reading, the circuit is dead. Most likely a bad circuit breaker (although rare.....they DO fail).
If there is voltage present at the screws (or wires), but the outlet still doesn't work, you have simply a bad recepticle.......once the breaker is identified, and the power to it has been shut off, they are simple to replace.
doc