electrical connections - general discussion

This isn't a post asking for help, but something I just managed to fix caused me to wonder something - when electrical connections start to go bad is there a gradual drop off in efficiency of the function they take care of? Until this week I had assumed electrical connections were either working or not working, on or off. But what about still working but reduced performance? If performance drops off before failure there would be a case for routinely cleaning all the electrical connections. Same rationale as changing the oil.

It does sometimes depend on what the electrical connection is for. However a less than perfect electrical connection isn't going to help whatever is connected to work correctly.
There is a particular issue with Freelander 2 crank sensors, where even a slightly less than perfect electrical connection can cause misfiring, and sensor failure. Also things like a slightly loose bulb connection can cause high resistance, which leads to bulb holders melting.
So it's always best practice to have perfect electrical connections.

Thanks for the reply. I didn't know that about the crank sensor. The map sensor on the F1 has always puzzled me, I've never taken one off that wasn't full of gunk. How it can function properly like that I do not know. SO there's that kind of contamination, corrosion on the pins, and condensation. I'm certainly going to be including cleaning connections as part of routine preventative maintenance from now on.

Pins can corrode over time if in damp areas and connections can become brittle with age and heat and of course earths can corrode.
So electrical faults can often be gradual or intermittent.

Shedload said:

Pins can corrode over time if in damp areas and connections can become brittle with age and heat and of course earths can corrode.
So electrical faults can often be gradual or intermittent.

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A while back I changed the pins on the wiring to a MAF sensor and the problem was cured - which is when i realised the sensor might be fine but acting like it was bust because of poor connection.

But what I didn't know was whether i was dealing with partial or total failure of the MAF. Same with this instance when i cleaning the connection to the high pressure fuel sensor.

I think it's the difference between digital and analogue - with digital a signal is either on or off, but with analogue signals reception can be better or worse (but still there). That's the question - to what extent does degradation of the connection lead to a gradual decrease in performance of the vehicle?


We spend a lot of time swapping mechanical parts and sensors but, from what I read of the forums, not so much time renewing the electrical connections. If they are not obviously broken we assume they are ok. Unless that's just me of course.

I often find myself cleaning connectors. Problem is the connector contacts are hard to get properly clean, whereas cleaning the usual green corrosion from copper wires is easy.

pwood999 said:

I often find myself cleaning connectors. Problem is the connector contacts are hard to get properly clean, whereas cleaning the usual green corrosion from copper wires is easy.

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I do no better than blasting them with electrical contact cleaner and letting them dry. Maybe something like those interdental brushes would be worth a try. Small enough to get in there and designed not to shed bristles when in use.

With Electrical Contact Cleaner has anyone else had the same issue as me ?
I have bought 2 tins separately and both started to leak from the top after a couple of uses.
Is it me ?