RE: [Chrysler300] I need a turn signal for my 61 G / Check your Bulkhead Connector

["John Mc Adams" <clafong@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

To all:

 

I would be willing to bet that this is one of those magical moments that
periodically happens to all Mopars of this era.  If I were Michael, (or his
mechanic), I would have a very close look at the mysterious "BULKHEAD
CONNECTOR" on the firewall.  This is where all of the electrical circuits
under the hood pass through the firewall to the under dash area.  

 

On some years, there are even two large (I think around #10 AWG) wires that
go from the alternator through the ammeter on the dash and then back to
charge the battery under the hood.  ALL of the current in the battery
(except the starter circuit) takes this path in order for the ammeter to
monitor the electrical system.  Over the years, the contacts in the bulkhead
connector get corrosion on them and become a high resistance connection.
This is sort of like the wiring inside your toaster.  You know the wires
that glow in order to turn the bread into toast.

 

When I first heard of this phenomenon common to ALL MOPARS of this era, I
checked the Bulkhead Connector on my '62 300 "Sport" convertible.  I could
not believe that two of the contacts had gotten so hot that the body of the
connector had melted so bad that the contacts were no longer being retained
and just fell out.  I had to find an NOS replacement connector and do the
maintenance procedure that follows.

 

The solution is to take all of the wire connectors out of the Bulkhead
Connector (both mating contacts) and clean and polish them to make them
electrically conductive.  Better yet, if you can find new mating contacts,
cut the old ones off and crimp the new ones on.  Be sure you don't get them
mixed up and actually cause an electrical short.

 

Then, before putting them back into the connector housing, coat them
liberally with silicone grease and reinsert them back into the connector.
Pack the housing with silicone grease so that no water can possibly enter.
The silicone grease keeps any moisture from getting into the contact area as
well as insulating each circuit inside from all the other circuits.

 

I hope everyone in the club that reads this will take a close look inside
their connector.  It is NOT an easy task.  If this saves just one of our
beloved 300's from being consumed by an electrical fire, it will be worth
it.  Just ask Michael if you doubt me.  He was lucky it only burned up
wiring.

 

Big John Mc Adams

(In SoCal)

 

 

(P.S.  I suppose this will start an avalanche of e-mails calling me
paranoid.  So be it.)

(You might also want to look at the following especially the photos:

 http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/amp-gauges.shtml  )

 

  _____  

From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Ron Waters
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 4:47 PM
To: Chrysler 300; Michael D. OLear
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] I need a turn signal for my 61 G

 

Michael -

So where would you say the fire started., ie., where the short was:
Alternator? p/w motor ? Starter ? I wasn't able to determine that from your
post. Also, in the suggestion department: How about one of those brass quick
disconnect thingees on your battery. You just have to turn the knob to
disconnect the battery. A couple of well-placed circuit breakers or inline
fuses would go a long way toward preventing this from happening in the
future.

Ron

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael D. OLear" <bookemdano50@xxxxxxx>
To: "Chrysler 300" <chrysler300@ <mailto:chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com>
yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 6:25 PM
Subject: [Chrysler300] I need a turn signal for my 61 G

> I sent this to Don, but I figured I had better check to see if someone
has a turn signal that will work on my 61 G. Also a special thanks to Nathan
Harris for his help. Also, I didn't send the photos of Jay Leno. I used the
resources listed on our web site, and it looks like I can have one rebuilt
in about a month if I can't get one sooner. My sad story to Don follows:
>



.

 
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=22975/stime=1215041897/nc1=4767085/nc2=4507179/nc3=5370579> 
 



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