Date:         Fri, 28 Dec 2007 08:47:00 -0800
Reply-To:     Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Followup to last month's "Thar I was"
Comments: To: Geza Polony <gezapolony@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2007122723485158@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I'd put my money on a soaked coil rather than a wet ECU connection. High
voltages are far more likely than low to go to the dark side when they
see alternate paths of conduction. I don't think anything extraordinary
to be done about the ECU connections. The conditions were extreme, 40mph
horizontal rain is rather like having an annoying neighbor kid spray the
vent on the side of the van with a hose nozzle -- for two days. Next
time I'll cover the vent with a bit of plastic and some magnets.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR

On 12/27/2007 8:47 PM Geza Polony wrote:

> Mike,
>
> I'd be willing to bet a sum I can afford to lose that it's the ECU
> connection taking in moisture. Any ideas about coating this with something,
> either a lacquer or spray-on dielectric grease or something like that? There
> must be a product people use. The problem with a hard substance like lacquer
> would be that the first time you open the connection you break it, then have
> to recoat ad infinitum or at least ad finitum vanagonae. Maybe there's an
> electrical protectant that remains pliable?
>
> Geza