Hot glue trick
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: Brisbane Queensland, Australia
Hot glue trick
Hi all; even though I recently read in an American Corvette Magazine that forums cannot be relied on for accurate info; I have always thought of this forum as a 'bible' on corvette stuff (generally); so as such, here is my latest tip for what it's worth:
If, like my '85, you too have problems with that strange connector that goes into the back of the centre cluster (The one where all the switches are) and like me, wonder who on earth invented such a connector that seemingly (On mine anyway) has no RELIABLE way of staying put...I can't help you...I CAN however, pass on something that's helped me a bit with better contact between the plug and the copper 'fingers' to which it mates;
Using your hot glue gun, drip a small amount of heated glue behind each finger (One at a time only) then with a flat bladed screw driver (No narrower than the copper 'finger') slide (Without pushing too hard so you don't actually rip these rather tender strips - hey, sounds like a food add!) the screw driver over the 'finger' to the end, keep it there for a second or two, then remove.
Do this one at a time as I mentioned, as the glue goes hard quite quickly. I used this technique last weekend to have a more reliable connection (And hence my LHS display light works again).
To those of you (The majority) in the USA; this may not be such a problem, as with all the Corvette places over there, it's probably just as easy to buy a new circuit layout. But over here in Australia (Or for those of you who don't see the sense in throwing money away unnecessarily), a 'repair' of this nature may be alright for you.
Hope this tip helps someone, someday.
PS; I once tried this with 'super-glue' but it didn't work anywhere near as well, or permanently, as hot glue, which also has more 'bounce' or flexibility to further enable a better contact.
Steve (smacko)
If, like my '85, you too have problems with that strange connector that goes into the back of the centre cluster (The one where all the switches are) and like me, wonder who on earth invented such a connector that seemingly (On mine anyway) has no RELIABLE way of staying put...I can't help you...I CAN however, pass on something that's helped me a bit with better contact between the plug and the copper 'fingers' to which it mates;
Using your hot glue gun, drip a small amount of heated glue behind each finger (One at a time only) then with a flat bladed screw driver (No narrower than the copper 'finger') slide (Without pushing too hard so you don't actually rip these rather tender strips - hey, sounds like a food add!) the screw driver over the 'finger' to the end, keep it there for a second or two, then remove.
Do this one at a time as I mentioned, as the glue goes hard quite quickly. I used this technique last weekend to have a more reliable connection (And hence my LHS display light works again).
To those of you (The majority) in the USA; this may not be such a problem, as with all the Corvette places over there, it's probably just as easy to buy a new circuit layout. But over here in Australia (Or for those of you who don't see the sense in throwing money away unnecessarily), a 'repair' of this nature may be alright for you.
Hope this tip helps someone, someday.
PS; I once tried this with 'super-glue' but it didn't work anywhere near as well, or permanently, as hot glue, which also has more 'bounce' or flexibility to further enable a better contact.
Steve (smacko)
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Originally Posted by smacko
Hi all; even though I recently read in an American Corvette Magazine that forums cannot be relied on for accurate info;
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: Brisbane Queensland, Australia
Originally Posted by ShawnZR-1
Great idea! You need to do a write up and put it in the tech tips section!!!
Not being a frequent user of CF anymore, I'm a little lost by the new format
