Unused Plug Conumdrum
 

Hello All,

I've had my '86 RX7 Base/Sport for almost a year, now.

One of the things that has bothered me since I first got the car has been the metric @ssload of un-used connectors that are flopping around in the engine bay.

Aside from the kind of sloppy/unfinished look, it occurred to me that they are exposed to all sorts of moisture, salt air, etc., etc., that could cause problems down the road.

I'm getting ready to put her to bed for the winter and, among other things, I hope to address while she's in hibernation, is this issue.

In an experiment I did today, I used shrink wrap to cover the female connector of the ECU “test” plug. I then crammed a lot of dielectric grease into the connector, and coated the outside of the now wrapped connector with it as well. (see pics)

I then took another piece of shrink wrap and fashioned a “cap” using silicone as a sealant for the open end. After the silicone set up, I greased the inside up. Put it on the plug and “shrunk” it to fit.

The result is a pretty tight cover for the connector that can be easily removed for troubleshooting and, in my opinion, looks more finished

Do any of you see a downside to doing this.

TIA, JoeAttachment 509474

more work than it's worth and eventually that grease is going to leak out all over the engine bay making it look even more messy.

i suppose only ADHD people are bothered by this, i have never had any issues with all the unused conectors lying around, unused and corroding. they simply just don't cause problems like you would tend to think.

i also wouldn't put the grease in unmated sockets, dirt will just make a future connection even harder to make.

Good points and I recognize your experience/expertise regarding RX7s.

However, although I don't think I suffer from ADHD as you imply, I do think securing and neatly covering unused plugs or sockets, not only make for a cleaner under-hood appearance, but also could avoid future corrosion problems in the wiring harness.

As to grease leaking in to the engine compartment..... maybe, but being as the connectors are snugly covered I doubt it's going to go too far...said covers should keep dirt out of the connector as well.

I would imagine someone suffering from ADHD would be all over that anyway.

The intent of my post was to offer a suggestion as to a way to have a more finished look to one's engine compartment while possibly avoiding potential problems.

Perhaps, I was wrong.

Adhesive lined heat shrink tubing would have been the idea stuff to use here. It would not only seal the back where the wires entire but also enable you to crimp the front end shut after heating and greasing.

Though I've never understood what people's obsession is with unused plugs. :)

Well if the plug in unused and u don't plan to put what it used to go to back in, not not just take the plug out? Pull the wires to the plug out of the harness a little bit snip and cap them, then put back in harness so there is no plug at all. As far as engine bay appearance goes that's the best appearance in this situation

Ehh, if it makes you feel better I guess... You aren't doing anything for the car by doing this. If you find unused connectors unsightly why not just megasquirt the car? That way you can make your own harness with just the right amount of connectors, an even number of them perhaps.

Isn't that the check connector? Or one of them anyway? LOL It's supposed to be unused, (and designed as such) from the factory. Every FC sat on the showroom floor that way...

I know they started to cap those things on newer cars (diag connectors).

Perhaps ADHD isnt the right acronym. OCD might be tho... ;)

Lol if he's gonna go mega squirt he may as well get the engine built...