how to fix loose connection?

[Adam32]

I have a Citroen Saxo furio 2001 and One of my MOT fails is the indicator flash light on the instrument panel, as it was not working at MOT test. This is an intermittent problem as sometimes it works and other times it does not. While investigating this problem, I loosened the screws on the instrument panel and wiggled it about – the light then started to work again, however it later stopped working. This makes me think it is a loose connection. In response to this I did the following:

1)Took the instrument panel out, unclipped and cleaned the plugs. I sprayed these with cleaner.

2) I then clipped the plugs back together and the indicator flash light worked again. Problem is it later stopped working until I fiddled with the plugs again.

3) I have checked all wires and these look okay.

4) I even had the indicator stem out and cleaned the terminals there, however I think the problem is the instrument panel side.


This is obviously a loose connection in the instrument panel plug, so how do I go about fixing this? Visually everything looks okay. Where do I go from here as I have to get this fixed very soon for MOT retest.

[S0 What]

It could be loose at the bulb? normaly i'd check the EARTH connection first for over heating then using a small pick i'd bend the contacts closed on the FEMAlE plug, i could also be a broken fillament in the bulb, they can wobble about working/not working and drive you mad ?

[Adam32]

S0 What said:

It could be loose at the bulb? normaly i'd check the EARTH connection first for over heating then using a small pick i'd bend the contacts closed on the FEMAlE plug, i could also be a broken fillament in the bulb, they can wobble about working/not working and drive you mad ?

Thanks for your suggestion, but it does not use bulbs. It uses small LED soldered to a circuit board inside clocks.

As for checking the Earth connection, how do I go about doing this? How do I find out what is earth? Sorry for the stupid question but my knowledge of electrics is very limited.

[imagineifyeswill]

If you look at the connections in the multi plug I would think the faulty connector will be discoloured compared with the rest.

[buzzer]

have a look at ALL the connections on the circuit board, but with a magnifying glass, I find a jewellers Loupe good for this... what you are looking for is whats called a dry joint. they can manifest themselves after a long time... often you will see the pin on the component (in your case perhaps the LED) has some corrosion around it, or simply has not made the connection.

the simple cure is to put a tiny dab of flux on the joint, and touch it with a fine soldering iron with a tiny blob of solder on.

I did this recently with a curcuit board on an alarm on the car... to the naked eye, i couldn't see a problem, but looking through the loupe a t each connection I suddenly spotted one that was not fully connected. a blob of solder later, all is well...

same last year with a Volvo dash which the dealer had quoted £800 to replace, a blob of solder cured the problem!

here is what I use... x40 is about right for a good magnification for this..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pocket-40X-25mm-Jeweler-...

[Adam32]

[quote=S0 i'd bend the contacts closed on the FEMAlE plug
[/quote]

I checked all the earths etc and they were okay. I tried to bend the contacts on the female plug but this did not work, so I bent them outwards on the male plug and it now works perfectly.

MOT now done

[S0 What]

Adam32 said:

[quote=S0 i'd bend the contacts closed on the FEMAlE plug

I checked all the earths etc and they were okay. I tried to bend the contacts on the female plug but this did not work, so I bent them outwards on the male plug and it now works perfectly.

MOT now done

Sweet glad you sorted it AND for letting us know what it was