ECU connector grease

[The Crooner]

About to swop my ECU, as I believe its fault.

The one in my car has grease in the connector block.

The one I've just bought has no grease and looking at the ECU and its connector, never has.

What is right and should I clean my connector beforereplacing the ECU?

Thanks

Tony

 

[television]

What ECU is it and car please Tony

 

[The Crooner]

Sorry, its the engine ECU from a 92 230TE.

 

[television]

No grease was ever used on the connector,, wash it clean with lighter fuel, that would be the best thing

 

[The Crooner]

Thanks, will do.

Is it possible the grease in the connector is causing problems?

Tony

 

[television]

Thanks, will do.

Is it possible the grease in the connector is causing problems?

Tony

there is grease and grease, if normal grease that can absorb moisture,, if the grease contains other things like lithium, then a current could flow where it should not.

You can use a nondrying switch cleaner from Maplins,,but I think that I would clean it out as best as you can, as >I said lighter fuel is harmless to the wires and contacts

 

[hardtop]

i repair mobile phones as a hobby & find carb cleaner is very good & never had a prob

 

[wireman]

Beware of using anything that might damage either the plastics or elastomer materials used on these connectors, if the connector gets water in it it will never dry out. Dow Corning MS4 silicone grease is suitable but again if water does get in it will definately never get out and electrolytic corrosion of the connector pins is inevitable. I use it on the inside antenna cable connectors at height and exposed to wind, rain and salt spray, it does indeed prevent corrosion of the inside of high performance connectors which have screw on shells but could be troublesome on clamp down connectors.
I have built several electronic units for mast head use in the same situations and use Finigans waxoil on the the already conformaly coated circuit boards in them. To date I have had no failures of any of these units some of which have stood at 80 feet up for over 12 years, recently I modified some of these units and once washed clean of the waxoil mess they appeared just as neat and tidy as the day they were built. The units have high performance seals on their cases but without the waxoil some degradation does occur.

DO NOT use normal lubricating grease since these are basically oil and soap, the oil migrates out and the soap absorbs water leaving caustic soda or the like among the debris and this will rot away at any metal parts especially aluminium bits. To my knowledge its only graphite loaded greases which present a serious conductivity problem, I don't think that Lithium and Molybdenum greases conduct any appreciable amount more than plain greases some testing is called for; if ever I get the chance to measure what happens with these greases in the presence of water and electricity I'll report back.

I would not hesitate to use either waxoil or silicone on an ECU if it seemed prudent to do so, but if the connector is shielded from spray and its peripheral seal is in good order and very clean it should not be required. Make certain sure that there are no bits of fluff or grit on the seal or its mating surfaces before you assemble the connector.

 

[The Crooner]

Thank you all for the help.

I will clean the connector very carefully of what looks and smells like the sort of grease you pack wheel bearings with.

I'll reassemble without anything and check the seals carefully.

Thanks again

Tony

 

[kth286]

Tony

Is that the EZL type of system you have on your car with an ECU bolted to the inside front wing.

If so, then there should be some paste on the heatsink (very important that heatsink).

It maybe they used the paste on the connector terminals by mistake and none on the heatsink hence the ECU breaking down from heat.

Have a look and see if what I say adds up.

 

[The Crooner]

Thanks David

Mine has the ECU behind the battery.

Tony