Hello

I have an issue with a Vauxhall astra H steering wheel electrical connector. I have two Skodas but the answer is of interest to all enthusiasts.

 

Q - is there a grease that can be applied to electrical contacts that still allows conduction but prevents oxidation of the contacts? (Trying to save me doing this job again in 1 to 2 years sat for hours dismantling steering wheel)

 

Background - Vauxhall used aluminium instead of copper (former being quite a reactive metal and rusts easily ) in a multiple pin electrical connector. This has been subject to a recall but the repair fails to deal with the issue underlying and reoccurs. Rust don't conduct and the problem has reoccurred affecting battery drain (ruined a 2 yr battery due to 150mA drain) and stops horn working, blew two dipped beams on auto mode once also.

 

PS I posted on Astra networks but it seems there are very few Vauxhall enthusiasts compared to Briskoda who are in the know!

It was this site that steered me to my first Skoda in fact.

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

Edited 2 May, 20224 yr by bmbmdmb

From memory use silicon grease - that's what used to be recommended for the MAF sensors on the Mk1 Fabia

always used Vaseline and not had any issues with contacts so far 

 

John 

16 hours ago, skomaz said:

silicon grease

Thanks. 

Now the can of worms...will silicone grease not just interfere with the electrical connection? It is dielectric grease (insulates).

I pasted some on car door latches not too long ago as a lube and result was that the car didn't lock. Cleaning it off allowed the doors to lock.

 

I could try it, however, I don't want the airbag activating, so I would have to reassemble before knowing it is a success and then the long term test of oxidation prevention.

Ok. Vaseline might be acidic? I have a tub of silicone. I suspect it is lower melting point than some of the silicone I have for brake slide pins.

14 minutes ago, bmbmdmb said:

will silicone grease not just interfere with the electrical connection? It is dielectric grease (insulates).

Theory is the connections are so tight the contact areas push out the grease to surrounding areas to prevent crud build up and crud getting in.

 

Contralube 770 is what I use, back available now at reasonable prices believe, some say to use it generously but that can often lead to some being be wasteful with the use, I bought a few small sachets years back and still have some left, if I needed more I'd now by a tube as the prices are back to sensible. - https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/827/category/154

 

HTH.

 

ETA: nothing is needed to be added to connection of battery post clamps to modern car battery posts.

 

Edited 3 May, 20224 yr by nta16

3 hours ago, nta16 said:

Theory is the connections are so tight the contact areas push out the grease to surrounding areas to prevent crud build up and crud getting in.

Yes, that is what I read with silicone, dielectric greases. I've read

https://www.w8ji.com/dielectric_grease_vs_conductive_grease.htm

 

Summary - what you just said above. 

 

There are conductive greases using metal particles suspension in grease. The metal coats exposed metal contacts with a thin film. A problem with them is galvanic corrosion if the metal react. 

No ox ID (very pricey is one eg)

 

I'm going to buy a higher melting point grease. I read nyogel is a good dielectric grease.

I think it might depend on application as to how important or not the particular grease (or other) needs to be, I'm almost sure (never sure with my memory) many years back that I used to put Copperease on battery posts and earth connections and never had any trouble (hence I learnt the battery post need nothing) to be later be told it would insulate the connections from each other, but the tiny pin connectors with computer type electronics might be another matter.

 

Even allowing for global warm and the car sitting out in the summer locked and sealed up as a heat trap to please any insurer I'm not sure you need a high melting point grease but as I found with my wife's 2015 Mk3 Fabia the wrong and or too much grease in the wiper stalk can give a constant wiper action when on or not.

 

6 hours ago, bmbmdmb said:

brake slide pins

The leaflet from the Pagid brakes bits I fitted it had to use Hydratec for rubber contact, which I took to mean the caliper guide pins.  

 

It’s now recommended not to use copper grease but Ceratec on metal-to-metal contact areas (only).