71 B-Body, thoughts on overheating electrical terminal?
#2578091
11/13/18 09:09 PM
11/13/18 09:09 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074 So Cal, USA
Fab64
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074
So Cal, USA
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Hi all,
I'm in the process of reinstalling my dash, and happened to notice that one of the terminals that connects to the headlight switch appears to have overheated sometime in the past.
In the first pic, looking over the top of the dash, it's the terminal at the top left.
I only have very basic electrical skills/knowledge. Has anyone seen this before? Any thoughts on what could have caused it? Am I safe to put this terminal back on, or is there something I should be looking for? Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks!
Roger
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Re: 71 B-Body, thoughts on overheating electrical terminal?
[Re: Fab64]
#2578118
11/13/18 10:01 PM
11/13/18 10:01 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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too much current flowing thru that connection (dead short or too high of draw downstream on the device end) and or a loose terminal male/female fit. I would get a new female one NAPA 725145 99 cents & before you insert it into the bakelite trial fit it in your hand on the male one there in the bakelite for a snug fit (lightly bend the curved edges as (if) needed). Some kopperkoat (sp) or similar conductivity paste wouldn't hurt. Make sure you do a good solder/crimp on the terminal to the wire & pull the lock tab out a bit from "flush" so it locks in place with a resounding snap as you pull the wire/terminal backwards into the bakelite holder. EDIT after looking at the pic again you may have to lengthen the wire on one side to make the male/female connection away from that severley damaged area. No big deal, with a good crimp/good soldering/good tight "fit" of the brass terminals together you will be fine on that part anyhow IF there is NO excessive draw but I am leaning toward just the bad terminal interface being the issue (loose/poor connection there where it overheated).
Last edited by RapidRobert; 11/13/18 10:13 PM.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: 71 B-Body, thoughts on overheating electrical terminal?
[Re: Fab64]
#2578209
11/14/18 12:29 AM
11/14/18 12:29 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
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About to go away
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
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If that connection looks like that also check the dimmer switch on the floor too, those tend to get the worse of things.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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Re: 71 B-Body, thoughts on overheating electrical terminal?
[Re: Supercuda]
#2586466
12/03/18 05:28 AM
12/03/18 05:28 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074 So Cal, USA
Fab64
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074
So Cal, USA
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Thanks for all the suggestions. I ended up cutting the corner off the connector block, and crimping and soldering a new male terminal onto the affected wire. Before re-installing the block, I put some dilectric grease on all connections.
I also think I may have figured out what happened. I noticed the male stud on the headlight switch was bent slightly rearward, so I suspect instead of the female connector fitting snugly down onto the male end, it may have missed the stud, and slid down in front of it instead(?). Hopefully, this will take care of it.
Roger
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