| Author | Message | ||
| Andy Falsetta (Tuttebenne)
New member Username: Tuttebenne Post Number: 41 Registered: 3-2003 |
Andyilles, You're absolutely right. Those fuse box rivets have caused lots of different problems. I found out about mine when the aux. cooling fans stopped working. I tightened the rivets with a hammer and drift then soldered them all. No more fan problems. | ||
| Dom Vitarella (Dom)
Junior Member Username: Dom Post Number: 123 Registered: 11-2002 |
The deoxit site is: www.caig.com Great Stuff, works wonders for all electic contacts, fuses, grounds, etc. Caig claims to deoxit is a contact enhancer, not just a cleaner. From my experience, I agree. Dom | ||
| Chris F. (Chrisfromri)
New member Username: Chrisfromri Post Number: 32 Registered: 1-2003 |
Greg, I buy Caig DeOxit from MCM Electronics (www.mcmelectronics.com). No relationship other than being a customer... Any shop type paper towel cut into small strips works fine as a cleaner/applicator for delicate precious metal plated relay contacts (strips say 1/4 inch wide and 2 inches long). Just wet the strip with DeOxit and gently pull it between the CLOSED contacts. Then similarly pull through a dry strip. You'll have to close the contact manually for some of this contact cleaning -- be gentle or you might have to bend the contact arm slightly back to maintain proper contact spacing. Note the spacing between the contacts before you start cleaning, and try to end up with the same (small) spacing. A bench magnifier/light is very helpful. Make sure that no lint remains behind between the contacts, and never use anything abrasive on the contacts. Be gentle, but unafraid. Try this link for a search I did there on "caig": http://mcm.newark.com/NewarkWebCommerce/mcm/en_US/support/search/searchResults.jsp?action=0&First=0&QText=caig&x=23&y=4 Kind Regards, Chris | ||
| Greg Owens (Owens84qv)
Member Username: Owens84qv Post Number: 723 Registered: 10-2001 |
Thanks for the tips. The CAIG deOxit can be found at any electronics store? | ||
| Chris F. (Chrisfromri)
New member Username: Chrisfromri Post Number: 30 Registered: 1-2003 |
The original metal can relays are quite high quality and can actually be serviced by removing the metal can and cleaning the contacts with a strip of low-lint paper towel dipped in contact cleaner like CAIG deOxit (never use anything abrasive as that will damage the precious metal plating). The metal can is removed by bending out the crimped tabs with a tiny screwdriver and then carefully sliding off the can. You re-install the can by slipping it back on (note the proper direction so the writing will be properly oriented) and recrimping the tabs back in with a small screw driver and a small hammer (on your bench). I also had to re-space a couple of the contact arms on mine, as the space had opened up slightly after cleaning. This is a matter of careful bending, while noting spacing. Kind Regards, Chris | ||
| Mark (Markg)
Member Username: Markg Post Number: 426 Registered: 2-2001 |
I swapped out all relays in my 82 GTSi due to intermitant fuel pump failure and occasional clicking from one relay. Made no difference at all, but new fuse block and voltage regulator solved all my issues....buy a spare, carry it with you. I now have 10+ spares ..... | ||
| Andrew A. Illes (Andyilles)
New member Username: Andyilles Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2002 |
The early relays are indeed Bosch, and seemingly last forever. Mine's a plastic '75 and I've never had to replace a relay. However, the "fuse box" is another story. The riveted "bullet" fuse contacts can and DO fail, particulary the high-amp headlight and window ones. They have FAR too small an actual contact area, so the contacts heat up, soften the plastic they're riveted through, get looser, then fail. I replaced mine twice with the same eventual result, but on the 3d replacement, I soldered the rivet contacts both sides... end of problem. | ||
| Greg Owens (Owens84qv)
Member Username: Owens84qv Post Number: 720 Registered: 10-2001 |
Mike, up until last night, the 308 had all of it's original relays. Installed now are the new black plastic relays. I've kept all of the old ones as backup. | ||
| Mike Procopio (Pupz308)
Junior Member Username: Pupz308 Post Number: 247 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hatched? ;) | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1040 Registered: 4-2002 |
Sob! Only Matt would pick on me on my birthday. OK, it's not my birthday, but the GT4 was born on 4/3/75. | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 3578 Registered: 8-2002 |
Andy, Yes. But there is no pattern. Some times it clicks every time for 6 cycles and then nothing for 10 cycles and then every other one. It must be a lucas relay or one left over from a GT4  Matt | ||
| Mike Procopio (Pupz308)
Junior Member Username: Pupz308 Post Number: 244 Registered: 10-2002 |
Very interesting! My left hand signal behaves normally, my right-hand signal clicks once or twice, then is silent, but still flashes normally. Is there just one cylindrical flasher component or are there two? | ||
| Andy Falsetta (Tuttebenne)
New member Username: Tuttebenne Post Number: 37 Registered: 3-2003 |
Interesting comment Godfather :-) My signal flasher "clicks" once and then is silent but the signal lights work correctly. Is yours doing the same thing? | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 3574 Registered: 8-2002 |
I have the original relays and my flasher does not click all the time but it does flash o.k. | ||
| Andy Falsetta (Tuttebenne)
New member Username: Tuttebenne Post Number: 35 Registered: 3-2003 |
My 308 has all its original relays too but my two street cars (which are one model year apart from each other) both suffered fuel pump relay failures (intermitent engine shut down - how nice to have happen to the lady of the house):-( Both of them also need cruise control relays if I want to use it (which I don't). I guess the older relays are more robust. They all are Bosch relays but the later ones aren't as reliable. I don't think the 308 needs to have the relays changed - the suggestion to carry spares makes sense. | ||
| Mike Procopio (Pupz308)
Junior Member Username: Pupz308 Post Number: 243 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hans, I'm confused. Does the cylindrical flasher go "blink, blink", or does is go, "bling, bling"? Greg, you say that your 308 "has all of its original relays," but then you also said you replaced them--you did replace them, right? | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 564 Registered: 5-2001 |
My 78 308 had all it's original relays, and they worked fine. By all estimation, the new owner has not replaced them either.... Probably is cheap insurance..but if you have those ceramic fuses, I would replace all those with the glass Buse brand fuses first. That will greatly improve reliablity. Clean and bend all the tabs in for a tighter fit too. | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 467 Registered: 2-2002 |
Same here. All my relays are now 27 years old and still functioning. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1038 Registered: 4-2002 |
I *think* that the cylindrical one is the actual flasher - the thingy that you hear going 'blink, blink'. (How's THAT for technical!) I don't know if it is necessary to do a massive pre-emptive strike. They do fail, but not all at once. Maybe just have a spare kicking around. As a way of getting home if a critical one fails, you can swap them around thus disabling a less critical circuit. I'm reasonably certain that all my relays are 28 year old originals. | ||
| Greg Owens (Owens84qv)
Member Username: Owens84qv Post Number: 719 Registered: 10-2001 |
Mike, my '84 308 has all of it's original relays. For insurance and in an effort to trouble-shoot a headlight problem (active thread), I purchased all new relays. There are 12 that are ~$8.25, one is ~$15.00, and then the "Italamec" relay which I haven't found yet. I spent $130 for all relays except the Italamec. I do find it facinating that after 19 years, the original relays still work. Considering the cost of other 308 parts, this is cheap insurance. I also replaced all of the fuses while I had the fuse cover off. | ||
| Mike Procopio (Pupz308)
Junior Member Username: Pupz308 Post Number: 242 Registered: 10-2002 |
Relays are cheap. There are, I don't know, maybe 15 or so (from memory) on the relay panel. All of these are bosch relays. There's one weird one, cylindrical, for the turn signals. Would you consider this cheap insurance? Are old relays known to fail? |