Finally getting to the point of actually assembling my car and am now getting to the wire harnesses. My question is what product can anyone recommend to clean the male/female terminals within the various plugs. Mine are oxidize and tarnished but not rusted. The aerosol contact cleaner you get at the hardware store does not produce any noticeable results. Thanks - Jim R.
I’ve found that small-calibre (.22) copper gun cleaning brushes along with the contact cleaner work great for the female connectors. Brass bristled brushes with contact cleaner are great for the male ends. Go gentle.
For cleaning the plastic insulation, I use an old cotton towel and a mild cleaner like Formula 409 or Simple Green. It takes off the grime, but does not deteriorate the plastic or dull the insulator colors.
A good trick is to gently clamp the harness plug between two pieces of wood in a vice. Stretch out the harness while wrapping the towel around the wires and pulling to clean.
Check resistance and continuity of all wires before re-installing, and fix any damage or cracked insulation.
Dissolve salt in vinegar, then soak terminals, plugs, etc in them. To neutralize use baking soda dissolved in water. Then rinse in dist water. Using metal brushes can remove the plating.
I have used lacquer thinner on a rag to clean the harness. Be careful if will remove the stripes on wires. A good wax & grease remover will also work.
Hey Gyrhead and Cougar Bill - Thanks for the recommendations, much appreciated! Jim R.
I cut a q-tip in half and loaded it into my dremel rotary tool for the female connections. Dipped it in either denatured alcohol or contact cleaner - can’t remember which.
Paint thinner/ mineral spirits is also great cleaner, it does not dry out plastic or rubber.
De-Oxit works very well for cleaning contacts. It comes in either spray or bulk. That’s what it was designed to do. Works great on potentiometers and variable resistors and variable capacitors too.
It’s been copied by CRC among others - https://www.autozone.com/miscellaneous-cleaners-and-degreasers/electrical-parts-cleaner/p/crc-lectra-motive-electrical-parts-cleaner-19oz/119711_0_0
My recommendation is never to soak wires in any liquid, as it will wick up through broken insulation like nobody’s business.
I too use lacquer thinner to clean, and it is only on rubberized wires that the color or stripes will dissolve. The old PVC stripes were impregnated into the insulation and not painted on. Newer wires are painted.
I also like copper and brass brushes for contact surfaces. Lacquer thinner cleans very well, but I have found that silicone dielectric grease cleans well too, while also helping preserve wire insulation or vacuum hoses rather than drying them out. It leaves the surface looking like new rather than dull and dried out.