Amur_

My front-left marker light was a little dim. So I yanked off the cover to pull the bulb to find out what the # would be for a replacement. I discovered that the base of the bulb was covered in rust, as was the inside of its socket. I wire-brushed the bulb and then scraped at the socket a little with a round file. When I put it back together the bulb was its normal spiffy brightness.

But I wasn't happy with my few scrapings when I tried to clean the socket; it didn't seem like much of a long-term solution. So my question is (and this has been bugging me for a while) how can I effectively clean these things (including gang plugs, which love to corrode but I'll be damned if I can figure out a way to get at the metal contacts) without destroying them?

My mechanic likes to spray these thing with some Brake Kleen and then connect and disconnect the plug a few times to 'clean things up,' but this just doesn't sound right to me. Another guy at an alternator shop said I should sandblast. I have 2 probs with this: 1) won't that totally shred the plastic body of a plug/soft metal components of a socket and 2) I don't want to blast away whatever paint and/or underocating is near the plug, never mind filling the surrounding areas with silica.

And would anyone recommend a grease/goo that I can dump into plugs/sockets that will both protect them from future corrosion and still conduct electricity? I asked some kid at the auto counter at Canadian Tire last week and he looked at me like I had horns growing out of my head.

ttyl,
Amur_

Icemark

Bosch makes a conductive grease thats often used for high moisture conditions.

I use it, but it is not cheap. $35 for 16 Oz.

Most auto parts stores that carry bosch plugs and O2 sensors can special order it for you.

turboren

$35? Ouch!

Silicone dielectric grease, found at most local parts stores. $4 or so for a large tube, or you can get one of the small ones (usually labeled "for spark plugs and wires") for less than $2.

Breakfast of champions!

Ren

Amur_

>>Silicone dielectric grease

Time to split a hair...

I was under the impression that di-electric meant non-conducting, as in the di-electric workboots I have to buy for work...