Thanks for your opinions. I did what you suggested. I get a reading of about zero......all the way to right...on my multimeter when I test those wires at the controller. also, out in the yard I get a reading of zero..on the selenoids...I tried it on several selenoids...also on a new one out of the box and get zero on that one too. I also tried on wires for zones that I know are working and get similar readings. Like I said...it seems the selonoids are working...as, after I manually get the valves working....( I set the controller to turn them on and then manually turn them on at the selenoid) and then I screw the selenoid back down... the valves will shut off by the controller...just cant seem to get the valves running when it is turned on. The kicker is, it's two different zones in this underground box, (three valves) and neither zone will go on...but they share the same common wire. However, there are other zones on this common wire that are all working. When I tested the wires at the controller (as you suggested) they are all reading about zero ohms. As are the other wires on other zones that are working. Do you have any other advice ???
Unless you had a lighting storm that fried everything, it sounds to me like your not using the multimeter correctly. On Most models, you need to switch the black lead . Pull it out from the VAC testing port and plug it into the Ohm testing port, as well depending on your multimeter, switch it to 200 ohms.