Finally, I have found the reason for my intermittent fault with my Dim-Dip lighting.

After what has been a painstaking search of the wiring, I tracked the problem down to a corroded connection (what a surprise) to the Dim-Dip unit itself.

One wire was barely connected, and fell off when I touched it, and another did not need much encouragement to break off either.

Ouch....... how good are you at soldering then?

I am guessing as good as your welding knowing you..... lol

You getting one from a breaker and soldering on with heat shrink or getting new connectors, cutting wires back and clipping into original connector block?

Ouch....... how good are you at soldering then?

I am guessing as good as your welding knowing you..... lol

You getting one from a breaker and soldering on with heat shrink or getting new connectors, cutting wires back and clipping into original connector block?

 

I will try and cut back the existing wiring and re fit new individual female spade connectors in the hope of using the original connector block.

All I have to do is figure out how to get the old connectors out of the existing block! stubborn or what!

 

Any advise Russ?

Well, with a little patience and gentle persuasion, the corroded connectors are out.

Phew! Tad-Dah

I'd just be splicing in a donor with pig tails sod that :lol:

Edited August 18, 20168 yr by Stephen

Try them.... Looks like the crimps could be the same... Should fit the original block...

http://www.altecautomotive.co.uk/6-way-multi-connector-including-terminals-450-p.asp

Try them.... Looks like the crimps could be the same... Should fit the original block...

http://www.altecautomotive.co.uk/6-way-multi-connector-including-terminals-450-p.asp

 

Cheers Russ... :thumbup1:

Nice new and clean shiny bits...

Cheers Russ... :thumbup1:

 

When you refit the wires and crimp them in, make sure you trim them back enough to lose all the green corrosion and have bright wire showing and make sure it is long enough for the connector to clip back in....

If there is corrosion on where the connector clips onto, use contact cleaner and a fibreglass pen to rub / wash off the corrosion....

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/abrasive-fibreglass-pencil-kr61r

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-contact-cleaner-200ml-n61an

 

I used this on all my under bonnet connectors to help remove corrosion from old connectors.....

Get about 8mm sticking out the end of the pen and gently scrub metal of connectors with the tip of the pen fibres. .......... Do not inhale the fine fibreglass fibres....!!

It will clean your connectors nicely, I usually blast with compressed air can and then spray some contact cleaner to blast away any debris left. Then wait for it to evaporate and then refit the connector....

 

If not then a trimmed thin nail file ( thin cheap fibre board type pack ) will make it easy to gently remove surface corrosion from the flat blade pins in a connector.... Gently.... Then contact cleaner...

 

Russ

Thanks Russ, :thumbup1:

 

Appreciate your guidance and advice mate.

 

I am just about to start stripping back the cables and will take on board your comments.

Hopefully I will find good core material without cutting to far back.

One down, 5 to go...

 

Hey Russ, should I add solder?

Belt and braces and all that.

Personally I would. Provides a better more reliable connection, and decreases the likelyhood of it coming loose.

Personally I would. Provides a better more reliable connection, and decreases the likelyhood of it coming loose.

 

Solder it is then.. :thumbup1:

 

Well that's the 3 larger one's done....

Note to self..

Remember to disconnect the battery when messing with electrics.

Oooops, a few sparks and then the frigging alarm went off.

 

Anyway, all 6 done ready for soldering.

Soldered the new fittings prior to assembly, not my best work, but better than nothing I guess. (sorry for the poor pictures, failing light)

Also detailed the second connector, came up quite good.

Another job well done aslong as it works.

Nice and tidy. Well done.

Another job well done aslong as it works.

 

Fingers crossed, just got to make sure I fit the wiring to the connector in the right pockets.

Nice and tidy. Well done.

 

Cheers mate. :thumbup1:

Also detailed the second connector, came up quite good.

 

Love it! In future make sure you clean the wires you are going to solder as any surface corrosion will make

it hard for the solder to bite. The solder joins can look fine but are in fact dry and can fail. As you have crimped

the joins you should be OK.

Love it! In future make sure you clean the wires you are going to solder as any surface corrosion will make

it hard for the solder to bite. The solder joins can look fine but are in fact dry and can fail. As you have crimped

the joins you should be OK.

 

I take your point Andrew, although I did cut back the cables a little so as to remove the green verdigri, the copper core was still very tarnished and dark looking.

In hindsight, taking on board what you have said, I should have cut back a little further so as to get to bright copper flex.

Another lesson learned.

So far so good, managed to get the 3 larger cables snapped into position.

Just have to pop the 3 smaller ones in, triple check and re assemble.

Can't wait to see the headlights working as Nissan intended, especially as I have recently refurbished them.

I take your point Andrew, although I did cut back the cables a little so as to remove the green verdigri, the copper core was still very tarnished and dark looking.

In hindsight, taking on board what you have said, I should have cut back a little further so as to get to bright copper flex.

Another lesson learned.

 

No need to keep cutting back, just scrape with a stanley knife or use an abrasive stick to remove the tarnish.

No need to keep cutting back, just scrape with a stanley knife or use an abrasive stick to remove the tarnish.

 

Thanks Andrew... :thumbup1:

So that's the connector all re built and clean, looks like new!

Just have to clean the spade connectors on the Dim-Dip box and re connect, Simples!

Success, everything works as it should!

 

Couple of pictures below, but they do not do the difference in brightness justice.

I will take some more later when it is dark.