Poor electrical connections

[diver]

A bit of a beginners question:

The electrical connector plugs for the cooling fans on my Tuscan have corroded, (probably due to too many pressure washes), causing an intermitent fault. I can't get to it with sandpaper or a wire brush because the metal bits are surrounded by a plastic casing. I've tried spraying it with 3 in 1 oil but only worked for a short while. Any advice on how to clean it so that it makes a good connection again and how to prevent it happenig again? Would putting some vaseline on it help, does vaseline conduct electricity?

[annodomini2]

Copper slip.

Failing that, is there enough play in the wire to allow you to remove the connector and fit a new one?

[diver]

Thanks. There's almost no play in the wire, which is probably a good thing as there aren't any clips securing it either (probably a deliberate weight-saving design by TVR ). I'll see if I can track down some copperslip tomorrow.

[Pigeon]

I'm guessing these are some variant on spade connectors, probably with the male part on the fan and the female part in a plastic block on the end of the cable?

I find it's usually possible to clean the male part by scraping the spades with a small screwdriver (might have to take the fan out of the car to get at them though).

The female part is harder. It might be possible to poke a very narrow strip of fine sandpaper up inside it but it probably won't do very much. If the shape of the connector is like two hands wrist to wrist with the fingers clenched so that the fingernails dig into the palm, it is often effective to stick a screwdriver up the side and bend it slightly so the fingers are more tightly clenched and the fingernails dig harder into the palm, so as to give a tighter connection; it also tends to scrape itself clean as you plug it in. Don't bend it too much though or it won't go back together...

[eliot]

Replace the whole thing with a new connector or crimp on some male/female spades?

[diver]

Pigeon said:

I'm guessing these are some variant on spade connectors, probably with the male part on the fan and the female part in a plastic block on the end of the cable?

If the shape of the connector is like two hands wrist to wrist with the fingers clenched so that the fingernails dig into the palm...

That's the things exactly. I've tried pluging them in and out repeatedly to wear through the corrosion, with only limited success. There isn't really enough slack cable to cut them off and replace them. I'll try tightening them up a bit, and I like the copperslip idea as I need something to coat them with to stop it happening again. I should have thought of it as I used to use it underwater in the North Sea on oil rigs and it never seems to wash off.

Thanks everybody.

[annodomini2]

see if you can get a bit of steel wool in for a rub around aswell.

[leorest]

For greatest reliability replace with new and crimp with a proper ratchet crimp tool. the squeezy bent pliers "crimpers" are totaly worthless and you would be better off twisting the wires together and sticking a cube of cheese on the end! Silicone grease or Halfords battery terminal grease can be used to keep water out.