Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

Cleaning contacts on berli pod help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 17, 2008 | 02:24 PM
  #1  
naf's Avatar
naf
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 73
From: Lexington, SC
Car: 1987 SC/1985 TA
Engine: 350/vortec/fitech
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9-bolt
Cleaning contacts on berli pod help

Any help on ideas for cleaning the switch contacts on a berlinetta digital dash pod? Only one or two switches are working with any consistency on my right pod. Jumping the contacts at each switch results in positive action-so I know it's the little metal tang/spring not closing.

I tried some electrical contact cleaner with negligible results. Those contacts on the circuit board are really tiny.

Thanks in advance.
Reply
Old Sep 26, 2008 | 09:51 AM
  #2  
John in RI's Avatar
Supreme Member
25 Year Member
Community Favorite
iTrader: (170)
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,266
Likes: 463
From: RI
Car: 1984 Camaro Berlinetta
Engine: LT1
Transmission: T56 6-speed
Axle/Gears: 4.11 LS1 Rear End
Re: Cleaning contacts on berli pod help

There's really not much you can do for them........

One thing I never tried and thought about several times over the years is die-electric grease..... ( Spelling ?)

The problem is that over time those little contacts get bent and warped due to usage and simply don't function as they were designed. The "points" at the back of each individual button also wears out and the tolerances inside the pod are Sooooo close that any variation from the original form causes problems.

A qualified electronics tech should be able to re-solder some contacts onto the circuit board is bad................ but there's not much that can be done otherwise. Try the grease and post your results !!!!




Reply
Old Mar 14, 2009 | 11:18 AM
  #3  
naf's Avatar
naf
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 73
From: Lexington, SC
Car: 1987 SC/1985 TA
Engine: 350/vortec/fitech
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9-bolt
Re: Cleaning contacts on berli pod help

Succeeded in restoring full function to the right pod that was giving me trouble. Figured the problem was carbon build up on the small contacts but couldn't get them clean with contact cleaner alone. Too small for the pipe cleaners I thought would work. Used dental floss with a bit of it dipped in a metal cleaner (a liquid polish with some abrasive in it, like chrome cleaner). Worked the cleaner across the contacts under the little metal 'bridges' then flushed it out with contact cleaner. Took a few applications on a couple, especially the 'Off' switches, which probably get used the most. Tested with a continuity tester as I went.

Reinstalled and everything works.

Thanks,

Mike
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gta892000
TPI
13
Aug 11, 2019 11:16 AM
IROCZDAVE (88-L98)
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
1
Nov 19, 2015 07:03 AM
buckshot63
Camaros for Sale
0
Sep 10, 2015 09:15 AM
IROCZDAVE (88-L98)
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
0
Sep 2, 2015 08:49 AM
IROCZDAVE (88-L98)
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
0
Sep 2, 2015 08:43 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:03 AM.