How do you know the wires run no where?

There are a few ways to do what you want depending on your abilities.

Most systems work on 24 volt control valves. Each valve requires a pair of wires, one supply, and 1 common return. If you look inside the control panel you should see a terminal strip numbered 1 through some number like 12 for a 12 zone control, and there will be one labeled common.

So when say zone 1 is turned on you will see 24 volts between 1 and common. The voltage is sent to the control valve which operates the solenoid and opens the valve.

So one way is just turn on each zone one at a time and measure the voltage to make sure you are sending the control signal.

Another way is really simple, but you have to know where the valves are. They are located under the plastic or metal cover scattered around the yard. Remove the cover and there is a manual valve you can open by turning it. Also note when you look in the hole what color wire is connected to the valve, and associate it with which zone it is connected to in the controller. If the manual valve works then you can troubleshoot the problem. If you see voltage at the control panel but not the valve you have an open circuit which is bad news. More often than not especially if it is a Toro system the control solenoid if the problem which is easily replaced by unscrewing it and screwing in a new one in its place.

There should be a solenoid threaded into the top of the valve. Slowly unscrew it about a 1/4 turn. 1/2 turn at the most. This should activate the zone. Do not totally unscrew the solenoid because if those zones are under pressure, water will blast out the solenoid hole and you will have to shut down the entire system to thread the solenoid back in.

Or you can connect 3 - 9 volt batteries in series to make 27 volts. Then hold one of the wires on the open negative terminal, and the other on the positive. See link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Valve activator

Thank you!! The three 9 volts (Dollar tree for a dollar each) worked great!! All my valves are working, so it told me that I have a bad controller. The front yard side works, but not the back. This finally solved my mystery! Thanks again!!