[flash]

wd-40 won't last long, and leaves an oily deposit on everything - i would not use that on an electrical connection, or anywhere near paint - i wax the engine compartment, so this would not be good for me



baking soda removes corrosion best on battery terminals - then the "red goo" to protect(for the life of me i can't emember what brand stuff it is, but all the auto parts stores carry it) - this was a big problem on the MGBs, and after using that stuff, i never had a problem again



i'll see if i can find my tube of that stuff and let you know what brand it is - i haven't used it in a while

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[S_Cal968]

Another thought on the Relay, they're actually easy to resurrect (if the coil isn't bad). You can pop the top and use a burnishing file [very fine] to clean the contacts.



A trick up-grade would be to install a commercial grade SSR - hmm, I may look into doing that... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Brian]

SSR???

i'm not too bright, what's that?

<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/huh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

solid state relay

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ether_joe]

since we are all warmed up now on DME relay thinking, can I pose a couple questions. . .



- are there any known issues using a 993 relay in our cars?

- I take the DME relay out occasionally as an antitheft measure - any long term concerns with this?



Thanks guys - really informative thread.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ether_joe]

[quote name='ether_joe' date='Apr 21 2006, 03:00 PM']since we are all warmed up now on DME relay thinking, can I pose a couple questions. . .



- are there any known issues using a 993 relay in our cars?

- I take the DME relay out occasionally as an antitheft measure - any long term concerns with this?



Thanks guys - really informative thread.[/quote]



ignore me - searching answered all my questions . . . duuuh. . .

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Brian]

this post just won't die! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



first things first... the clicking starter - i'm not very bright. the last time i had the starter off to clean it all out, i applied a light layer of grease on the contact surface between the starter and the flywheel housing. i figured it would help seal things up and keep the contact clean for removal later. little did i think that this was also the contact for the negative ground for the starter. so after removing the starter yesterday and cleaning the heck out of every wire terminal and reinstalling, i still heard the click, only worse. after a short break, it occurred to me to remove the grease. i wiped it all down and sprayed it with some contact spray and wiped it again. lo and behold, it's started strong ever since. (only a few times, but still, i'm encouraged!)



the dme relay... i took it apart on friday and sprayed the heck out of it with contact cleaner. i didn't see any signs of damage or bad solder joints. it looked brand new. so i put it back in the car, and it still is not working right. every time i go to start the car, i have to tap on the relay.



i have a new one coming in today.



so my two problems weren't so major after all.



my only last concern is very simple - is there something in the car that would cause the dme relay to go bad?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

resistance along one of the wires could cause overheating of the relay - a short at any point along the way could too



inspect the harness for any signs of cracking or corrosion - beyond that, the diagnostic process becomes a tedious one, and may still not turn up anything



such a problem not terribly likely, but worth a cursory look anyway, just in case



i'd just get in there and make sure you get contact cleaner down inside the connection in the fuse block, and change out that relay



this is where i was elsewhere suggesting that perhaps a regular PM item (every couple of years) would be to disconnect the battery, pull all fuses and relays, and get in there with contact cleaner and clean air and really clean everything up

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Brian]

i'll second that notion. falalala. sounds mo-town.

i sprayed down each and every relay and it's spot in the box and then pushed it in and out a few times. sprayed it again for good measure. you'd be surprised how much stronger the starter pulled afterwards.

i haven't done the fuses yet, but it's not a bad idea.



new dme relay is on it's way. i love having a wife who enjoys running errands during the day! full report at six.



if this doesn't work, i'm going to install a built-in finger in the fuse box that will automatically tap the dme relay three or four times when i first turn the key on. kind of like warming the glow plugs in a diesel. it'll have to do the same thing if it senses the car dying while i'm driving. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Brian]

dme relay installed.

car started right up.

voltage set to 14.10.



time to drive it for a week and see what happens. wish me luck.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ether_joe]

[quote name='Brian' date='Apr 24 2006, 11:12 AM']i'll second that notion.  falalala.  sounds mo-town.[/quote]





yeah man, Motown is where it's at. Bass players. . . . the Funk Brothers. . .



sounds like you got it licked though

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Brian]

bass players- you? is that your pic? i had a buddy in high school (who could throw that speed ball by you) who loved primus. that guy was insane. whatever happened to him?



anyway, i stopped by the dealer last night and got a complementary, yes complementary, airbag/! light reset. can't say how exciting it is to have that thing gone. the car ran great with the grease off the starter and the new dme relay.



this morning it turned over kind of hard, but did start w/o a tapping. the verdict is still out, but my confidence is high.



time to rob the kid's college fund and think of more mods.......

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

hydrometer check your battery - could be a low cell that started all of this

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Brian]

good tip...

i've got an optima - do you know if there's a way to test it? i haven't really looked too closely, but i think it's all sealed up.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

nope - sorry - can't help you there - not even sure if they can suffer the same kinds of problems



you can check static and charging voltage at the battery though, to eliminate the charging systems as the culprit

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Brian]

i'm getting about 12.6v when the car is just turned off and 14.1v while running.

i have one of the adjustable voltage regulators from ice shark.

i had it at 14.4v like he recommended.

after thinking about it, i dialed it back to 14.1v before i put the new dme relay in. i'm trying to eliminate variables.

the battery may not charge as quickly at 14.1, but i'm sure it won't blow anything. and i have a trickle charger ready if need be.

i tested out my little three wire jumper contraption. and sure enough, when i plugged it in, i could hear the fuel pump running.



another few days of success, and i'll be looking for some racing around here.... oh wait, i'm married with a kid. maybe i'll just imagine i'm racing on my drive home! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

hmmm - nothing low enough there to indicate a problem in the charging system



get some miles on it and see how it goes - if the slow start problem persists, then you may need to look at the starter

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.