cleaning 7-pin receiver connector on truck
I keep getting "Trailer Connected" message in my truck, I was guessing the pins were somewhat corroded. I have sprayed dielectric spray and I do not want to short out anything by using a metal brush. ...
Forum Discussion
JRscooby wrote:
I'm not much smarter than a box of rocks, but have used Dielectric grease on hundreds of light cords for millions of miles for decades. And sense I started, the only issue I have had is careless handling. Start with tight, clean connections. A little of the grease about every 10-20 unhooks. I assume that like any grease, it will keep moisture, therefore corrosion off the contacts. And because it is non-conductive, I do not need to worry about it causing short circuits.
In the case that is "working" for you, basically you are depending on the contact springs to be strong enough to displace enough of the dielectric grease from the contact surface to make a electrical connection.
Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't.
Whatever contact is being made is compromised electrically and adding needless resistance to the equation.
I am just trying to correct the old wives tales that dielectric grease is a magical cure all for everything electrical.
It isn't.
It isn't the proper tool to use if the goal is to get the best electrical contact.
Dielectric grease as mentioned on the website I linked typical uses are for preventing electrical "leakage" in high voltage situations like your spark plug boots and distributor boots.
The proper tool is two of the greases I mentioned (Oxgard or No-Alox) and you just apply that to the contact surfaces only, it will not run or creep and it is specifically made for doing the exact thing you want which is to keep moisture away from the contact surfaces.
