Check your 'older' cable connectors for decay

[Ozzy119]

Hi all,

Bit of a look about during a routine battery charge session. No idea why I thought to inpsect but opened up the cover box on the driver side engine bay (D4 2.7). This is where the Traxide loom goes through to the cabin, taking power to the rear. I spotted the single connector was in a poor state. One light touch and it disintegrated in my fingers. Timing is just before a camping trip, so happy to have found out now, instead of pack day.

[LGM]

Hi all,

Bit of a look about during a routine battery charge session. No idea why I thought to inpsect but opened up the cover box on the driver side engine bay (D4 2.7). This is where the Traxide loom goes through to the cabin, taking power to the rear. I spotted the single connector was in a poor state. One light touch and it disintegrated in my fingers. Timing is just before a camping trip, so happy to have found out now, instead of pack day.

Got my bull bar off for a sand blast and respray at the moment and am using the opportunity to check all the connectors that are in the front area of my D4 along with the cable ties that are used to hold various items of the wiring loom in place. Most of the connectors are OK but the cable ties are another story....replaced most of them.

[drivesafe]

I have never had an issue where battery terminals corroded but I have always coated my exposed electrical connections with some form of protective coating, like in the OLD DAYS, where it was common practice to cover these exposed surfaces with petroleum jelly.

It is NOW well known that the use of petroleum jelly is a Big No-No, as it could actually damage the battery.

For the last 20 or so years I have been using lanolin based products to coat these exposed surfaces, and as above, have never had an issue like Ozzy.

But I would be interested in hearing if anyone who has applied some form of protective coating but still had corrosion problems, like Ozzy’s issue, where I believe his battery terminal snapped of at the base.

[Ozzy119]

I have never had an issue where battery terminals corroded but I have always coated my exposed electrical connections with some form of protective coating, like in the OLD DAYS, where it was common practice to cover these exposed surfaces with petroleum jelly.

It is NOW well known that the use of petroleum jelly is a Big No-No, as it could actually damage the battery.

For the last 20 or so years I have been using lanolin based products to coat these exposed surfaces, and as above, have never had an issue like Ozzy.

But I would be interested in hearing if anyone who has applied some form of protective coating but still had corrosion problems, like Ozzy’s issue, where I believe his battery terminal snapped of at the base.


Sorry, I tried to post a picture, but it wouldn't load. To clarify, it is the single (white in this case) plastic anderson style connector. The plastic housing crumbled away, so the power points were no longer tightly clipped together.