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tylerdmoore · 01-22-2012, 06:03 PM

Why does my "to do" list keeeeeeeeep growing

The trip home from AZ was wet with a bunch of slush on the Siskiyou's. Turns out that my rubber seals in both 12 volt distribution cabinets are bad. I just opened them up today and was appalled!

I need to clean them up, wax the interiors and clean and protect the connections.

Question: Do you all think it would be okay to switch off the two main 12 volt switches and run a hose and some soap in there? I'm thinking if the power is shut off I should be okay...........

001 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

002 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

SteveJordan · 01-22-2012, 08:00 PM

Soap and water is not a good idea. I have used compressed air to blow the area out and then wiped the area with wd40. With all the relays and their connections it would be very hard to dry. I can see many hours trying to find problems with your wiring. I have also vacuumed the bottom of the tray.

sdennislee · 01-23-2012, 03:44 AM

Agree with previous poster, it will be next to impossible to get all the connections and relays dry.

Steve N Sal · 01-23-2012, 04:44 AM

X3

Then I would probably address the seals to prevent anymore leaks.

wb6epp · 01-23-2012, 07:24 AM

Yep, a 1200 watt hair dryer works fine to get rid of the moisture. my 2 cents though!

tylerdmoore · 01-23-2012, 09:25 AM

Thanks guys, I already knew you'd all say this. The pics really don't show how bad it is in there, there's fine road dirt/dust covering everything. It's also already soaking wet from all the heavy rain we've been receiving. You can't see it in the pics, but the factory put the meeting point of the seal at the top right corner of the cabinet. Over the years it's obviously shrank back a bit and the rainwater now enters the box from the top as well as bottom when driving.

It really needs to be cleaned up...I'm going to give washing it out a try. I'll do it when the weather warms and the rain is done to help dry it out, and use the hair dryer as well. Then I'm thinking it would be a good idea to remove all push on connectors and use some dielectric grease in them all.

I have a total of 3 cabinets that will need new seals....maybe I'll just do them all and be done with it. Anyone have a link to find the seal material? I'm probably going to need about 150' of the stuff

Big Bear Local · 01-23-2012, 12:54 PM

Why does my "to do" list keeeeeeeeep growing?

Because you need a "ta-done" list

tylerdmoore · 01-23-2012, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campingman

Why does my "to do" list keeeeeeeeep growing?

Because you need a "ta-done" list

I do have one of those...the "To Do" list just grows twice as fast

Stopped by storage this morning to get a sample of the seal...now to try and find the stuff. I know, I know....Google is your friend

sc3283 · 01-23-2012, 10:40 PM

Why does it keep growing??? because your fortunate enough to still be breathing

You can get a good brand electrical contact cleaner...(ie; CRC and others) to actually wash the connections...

Mr_D · 01-23-2012, 10:45 PM

A friend dumped his BMW motorcycle into the ocean, we used compressed air to dry it off after wrestling it out of the sinkhole. The ignition system rusted up and was hard to service after that. I know, I bought it from him. The BMW mechanic said we should have thoroughly washed it down with fresh water, then blown it dry.

distaff · 01-24-2012, 08:23 PM

Simple answer, it keeps growing because you keep living!

Also known as the second law of thermodynamics.

WeatherTodd · 01-24-2012, 09:45 PM

contact cleaner, compressed (dryed) air and some battery termimal spray oil

JimM68 · 01-27-2012, 02:13 PM

I would wash em. Use a brush to scrub as much of the crud as possible off, then hose em.
Use hot water. Get an adapter if you have to. I have a slop sink in my garage that I use, and an adapter to attach a hose.

After you hose it, dry it. Compressed air is best, but a leaf blower works really well too. Important to get it dry take your time.

I use a leaf blower iunder the hood of the camaro. Spray gunk, scrub, pressure wash, blow dry. Works good, even on a daily driver show car.

skibum61 · 01-28-2012, 10:16 AM

Turn off the power (AC & DC ) then wash with soap and water. I don't use a nozzel on my hose. Don't want pressure, just flow. A soft brush will get into places that need it. After I'm done I use air to help dry things, but I don't turn the the power back on for several hours.