Visible cracks, flattened jackets, sharp bends, dirty connectors, and corroded ferrules are typical indicators of cable damage. How do you test a fiber cable for faults? Use a Visual Fault Locator (VFL) for quick field checks, and an OTDR for. This guide offers practical steps to troubleshoot fiber optic cable issues, covering common problems, key tools, and preventive measures to ensure stable performance. Whether you're a homeowner troubleshooting home internet issues or a technician managing a larger. Damaged fiber optic cables can cause signal loss, interference, or even fire hazards. Common Causes of Fiber Optic Failures 2. Fiber Optic Cable Repair Kits You May Need. A very common problem is that a connector is not fully engaged - often hard to notice in a crowded patch panel. Or it could be caused by the quality of the connector itself, such as poor end-face geometry that doesn't pass the parameters defined by IEC PAS 61755-3 standards, including angle of the.