Editing Troubleshooting electrical problems
Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
==Cleaning terminals== | ==Cleaning terminals== | ||
− | Start at the battery. Regardless of how the connections look, remove the cables. Remove the | + | Start at the battery. Regardless of how the connections look, remove the cables. Remove the positive cable first, then the negative cable. Use a battery terminal wire brush tool to clean the battery terminals and the cable terminals. Remove all old oxidized contaminants. Be aware that lead is likely present, so wear gloves if you are concerned about lead migrating through your skin. |
To prevent future corrosion, a light coating of non-conducting grease such as Dow Corning DC4 should be applied. While a professional might not recommend this, I had Japanese mechanics put regular bearing grease on my car battery terminals when I was overseas and it never presented a problem. It seemed to prevent acid build up and corrosion. | To prevent future corrosion, a light coating of non-conducting grease such as Dow Corning DC4 should be applied. While a professional might not recommend this, I had Japanese mechanics put regular bearing grease on my car battery terminals when I was overseas and it never presented a problem. It seemed to prevent acid build up and corrosion. | ||
Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
[[File:Bad batt clamp term.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Clamp-on replacement battery terminals are to be avoided!]]Do not be tempted to save money by using one (or more) of the cheap, clamp-on style battery cable terminals. Even if they are tight and look fine, all too often they will cause high resistance and can make it seem like the battery is bad, etc. If the terminal fails on a cable there are better terminals that may be used to replace them, or the entire cable can be replaced with a cable having a larger diameter and quality terminals already installed. | [[File:Bad batt clamp term.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Clamp-on replacement battery terminals are to be avoided!]]Do not be tempted to save money by using one (or more) of the cheap, clamp-on style battery cable terminals. Even if they are tight and look fine, all too often they will cause high resistance and can make it seem like the battery is bad, etc. If the terminal fails on a cable there are better terminals that may be used to replace them, or the entire cable can be replaced with a cable having a larger diameter and quality terminals already installed. | ||
<br style="clear:both"/> | <br style="clear:both"/> | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
==Grounding== | ==Grounding== | ||
Line 46: | Line 39: | ||
Considering that electrical fires happen all too often and our classics deserve to be protected, a new wiring harness should be considered in most cases. Aftermarket companies are making some very nice kits and some are car or class specific. | Considering that electrical fires happen all too often and our classics deserve to be protected, a new wiring harness should be considered in most cases. Aftermarket companies are making some very nice kits and some are car or class specific. | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
==Resources== | ==Resources== | ||
− | |||
− | |||
*[http://www.vernco.com/Sparks/id606.htm Voltage drop test] | *[http://www.vernco.com/Sparks/id606.htm Voltage drop test] | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
[[Category:Electrical]] | [[Category:Electrical]] | ||
[[Category:Troubleshooting]] | [[Category:Troubleshooting]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Undeveloped articles]] |