Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Cleaning femal ends of relays procedures and spark plugs

[Stephen L Sherman (stephensherman44]

I used dialectic grease when rebuilt the connector for speed sender when my speedometer said 

I was doing 80 in reverse backing out of the garage.

That was when I discovered my 81 308 GTSi was built when Ferrari was using parts up.

I checked with Ferrari ( gave them serial numbers from the engine, transmission and body ) and they said that's the way it left the factory.

I finally got the correct parts manual from T.Rutlands.

If your speed sender looks like a chess piece and it is mounted on the top and you have an 81 GTSi I have correct parts manual. 193/80

Stephen

Sent from my iPad

On Aug 25, 2014, at 8:08 PM, Todd Walke <racertod [at] racertodd.com> wrote:

Michael wrote:

O.k. I followed someone's advice and bought the aerosol can to clean the female ends of the relays. The clerk told me to unplug the negative on the battery and shoot the spray inside the slots (female ends) of the relays. Wait 15-20 minutes and put eveything back together. Anything else I need to know ?

        I'm a fan of using dialectic grease on connectors to help minimize corrosion.  Here's a quick primer on why, for those less technically minded.

        Although metal connectors may appear to be very smooth to your eye, on a microscopic level they look like mountain ranges with high and low spots.  When you slide a terminal into its receptacle, only the "peaks" of the mountains contact and conduct electricity.  The "valleys" contain just air.  Air contains moisture and that moisture can lead, over time, to corrosion getting started in the connection.
        Sometimes just removing and reinstalling a connection will break the corrosion, expose clean metal and allow for electricity to flow once again.  The contact cleaning spray you used is designed to clean off any corrosion or dirt and get the metal nice and clean.

        If you apply some grease to the terminal first, it will fill in the "valleys" and prevent moisture from getting in there and causing corrosion.

        Can you use just any old grease?  No.  The grease must be non-conductive.  If the grease conducts electricity, some electricity may leak through the grease to an adjacent terminal (in a multi-terminal connector) or to a ground.  That isn't good.

        So we use a grease with a high "dielectric strength".  Dielectric strength is a measure of how good of an electrical insulator a material is. 

        It's commonly called "tuneup grease" as well as "dielectric grease".  Here is a link to the Permatex product that you'll likely find at any parts store:
<http://www.permatex.com/products-2/product-categories/specialized-maintenance-repair/electrical-system-maintenance/permatex-dielectric-tune-up-grease-detail>

        I use just a dab on each terminal before sliding them together.  I recommend it on engine compartment or undercar connectors that may be exposed to water.  Doesn't hurt on connections inside the car, especially on cars that may sit for longer periods of time.
        Newer cars, like my '01 Golf, have sealed connectors with seals that keep water away from the wire terminals inside.  Older cars don't use many sealed connectors and so dielectric grease can be an excellent way to limit electrical issues long term.

Todd
Seattle,WA
'86 GTI, Red of course. (exciting racey car) 276,000 miles
'01 Golf TDI, silver.   (new work car)       480,000 miles
'87 Golf, Polar Silver. (retired work car)   654,000 miles <- Gone to a new home :(
http://www.pureluckdesign.com <-Ferrari & VW stuff

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