Tools of the Trade

Like every good technician, I have an electrical tool kit consisting of wire and terminal repair tools and soldering equipment. I also keep a stock of other materials, such as:

Stabilant 22:
This material is electrically active and stays resident within a contact pair, enhancing conductivity without leakage between nearby contacts. It's initially non-conductive, amorphous that becomes conductive when exposed to an electric field.

Rodent-Deterrent Tape:
This tape is treated with capsaicin to protect those wires with soy-based coating.

Liquid Metal Defogger Grid Repair:
Great for a variety of repairs.

Bare Conductive Electric Paint:
Like any other water-based paint except that it is conductive. I also have a conductive paint pen.

Nyogel 760G:
A silica-thickened, synthetic hydrocarbon grease to protect electrical contacts.

Silver Conductive Glue Paste:
Cures at room temperature and air dries.

Nickel-Copper Cobalt Tape:
Great RF shielding--70 dB @ 1 MHz and 100 dB at 1 GHz.

The 2016 Impala that I worked on had intermittently activated the SERVICE STABILITRAC warning on the dash and the sound of "electrical arcing" under the hood. My homemade, electronic electroscope detected
a spark from the inside hub to the outside ring on the harmonic balancer.

 

Measuring the resistance from the center of the hub to the outside ring of the harmonic balancer, I found about 763 K Ohms. I cleaned the harmonic balancer off with brake cleaner. Next, I used my liquid metal defogger grid material, applying it from the center hub to the outer ring on the balancer across the rubber to control the resistance. I told Samuel it is a temporary repair. The intermittent P0300 and STABILITRAK message was due to terminal fretting at the EBCM connector, terminals #23 and #24. My 40x illuminated loupe comes in handy for close inspection. A loose ECM ground caused the misfire at times--the P0300.

 

The problems with the Kenworth were resolved. The Service Lamp was flashing and there were transmission issues on the UltraShift transmission controlled by the TECU. The culprit was a corroded power supply to the TECU. The shop never suspected this because the wiring had been replaced before. But the root cause? I spotted the dirty powder on and near the wiring with my UV light (just another use for it). That was caused by nitric acid formed in the presence of moisture in the air. So, where did the nitric acid come from? It was caused by the ionization of nitrogen in the air, and that was caused by an intense electric field.

This diesel had some add-in inverters, causing nearby corona discharge, due to the close proximity of the wiring. Corona eventually causes punctures and carbon tracking. Whenever I see wiring in close proximity of other wiring, especially from an upfitter, I use my UV light to look for the residue.

A technician has to have good detective skills and be persistent. Had I replaced the power wire to the TECU, it would have failed because I would have treated the symptom, not the disease.