electrical problem solved
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
electrical problem solved
Ok guys after not receiving any answer on my previous post about the common electrical problems harassing our c3's, I decided to inspect the problem deeper. For the guys having problem with headlights not working, dashlights,power windows,locks, etc, etc..., before buying a lightswitch check your wiring harness first!!!
At the firewall driverside you have the big connector that fits into the connector in the cockpit driverside. Disconnect those and clean them with a brake cleaner and let it dry. Mine were not dirty, but it was covered by some kind of sealand that they used at the factory. This sealand got into the copperconectors and covered the electrical circuit.
I think a logical explenation for this, is the engine heator headers melting the sealand year by year so it could get it's way to the copper connectors.
It's an easy fix and took me an hour or less to do. Now I have a spare lightswitch and two spare of new door lockmotor.
I just wanted to share his info to help the ones getting nightmares
with their electrical problems.
Ryan
At the firewall driverside you have the big connector that fits into the connector in the cockpit driverside. Disconnect those and clean them with a brake cleaner and let it dry. Mine were not dirty, but it was covered by some kind of sealand that they used at the factory. This sealand got into the copperconectors and covered the electrical circuit.
I think a logical explenation for this, is the engine heator headers melting the sealand year by year so it could get it's way to the copper connectors.
It's an easy fix and took me an hour or less to do. Now I have a spare lightswitch and two spare of new door lockmotor.
I just wanted to share his info to help the ones getting nightmares
with their electrical problems.Ryan
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Your Kidding-Right?
Originally Posted by holley425hp
Ok guys after not receiving any answer on my previous post about the common electrical problems harassing our c3's, I decided to inspect the problem deeper. For the guys having problem with headlights not working, dashlights,power windows,locks, etc, etc..., before buying a lightswitch check your wiring harness first!!!
At the firewall driverside you have the big connector that fits into the connector in the cockpit driverside. Disconnect those and clean them with a brake cleaner and let it dry. Mine were not dirty, but it was covered by some kind of sealand that they used at the factory. This sealand got into the copperconectors and covered the electrical circuit.
I think a logical explenation for this, is the engine heator headers melting the sealand year by year so it could get it's way to the copper connectors.
It's an easy fix and took me an hour or less to do. Now I have a spare lightswitch and two spare of new door lockmotor.
I just wanted to share his info to help the ones getting nightmares with their electrical problems.
Ryan
At the firewall driverside you have the big connector that fits into the connector in the cockpit driverside. Disconnect those and clean them with a brake cleaner and let it dry. Mine were not dirty, but it was covered by some kind of sealand that they used at the factory. This sealand got into the copperconectors and covered the electrical circuit.
I think a logical explenation for this, is the engine heator headers melting the sealand year by year so it could get it's way to the copper connectors.
It's an easy fix and took me an hour or less to do. Now I have a spare lightswitch and two spare of new door lockmotor.
I just wanted to share his info to help the ones getting nightmares
with their electrical problems.Ryan
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 421
Likes: 2
From: Long Grove, IL
Originally Posted by holley425hp
...but it was covered by some kind of sealant that they used at the factory. This sealant got into the copper connectors and covered the electrical circuit.
Here is my bulkhead connector. You can see the corrosion on the left hand side that was causing me all sorts of trouble with intermittent electrical problems.
Regards,
Jay
Last edited by griffths; Aug 29, 2006 at 10:42 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 20
From: Central Michigan
It sounds to me that you fixed the problem when you removed/reconnected the bulkhead connector, re-establishing contact with the copper contacts that were causing the problem in the first place. It might be a good idea to remove it again and clean the copper contacts, then put some more dielectric grease on the connector, or the same problem may return before long
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Thanks guys,
Yes the grease looked more like some sealant, but it not only stop corrotion it keeps moisture away. The sealant or grease was all over the copper contacts. So no electrical connection. I cleaned the connection as far and as good as I could. Now I have everything working. I'm also glad that my wiring harness didn't suffer from a bubba virus.
Yes the grease looked more like some sealant, but it not only stop corrotion it keeps moisture away. The sealant or grease was all over the copper contacts. So no electrical connection. I cleaned the connection as far and as good as I could. Now I have everything working. I'm also glad that my wiring harness didn't suffer from a bubba virus.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
That grease needs to be there or you will be doing this again when the corrosion starts. Good that you found the contact problem, but you need the protection. You can tweek the female connectors a bit to tighten them up a bit, reapply the grease and you should be good for another 25 yrs
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Go to the parts store, get a tube of dielectric grease and re-grease those contacts...or you're REALLY going to have fun when those contacts start corroding. You've got the contacts cleaned up and working again - great. Now keep them that way.
Removing all the dielectric grease is a very Bubba thing to do...
Removing all the dielectric grease is a very Bubba thing to do...
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