Re: Short in my instrument cluster

["Fred Munro" <munrof@isys.ca>]

Hi Robert;

    Thanks for the info; I'm sure Scott will find it useful. There is
another solution to these bad connector problems. A Canadian company makes a
nifty product called Stabilant 22. It is a liquid semiconductor which is
normally non-conductive. In a thin film between two metal connectors it
becomes conductive when exposed to electrical current (quantum tunnelling).
Audi recommends using the stuff on all connectors which do not carry an
inductive load. It gives you the conductivity of a soldered joint on a pin
or tab connector. It also seals the connection against corrosion. Apparently
it also works wonders at clearing up random computer glitches caused by poor
connections and improves the sound from stereo systems.
    Really neat stuff! I just picked up a bottle. At $50 for 15ml, it's not
cheap, but I have lots of plans for it already!

Fred Munro
'91 200q  254k km

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Myers <rmyers@inetone.net>
To: Fred Munro <munrof@isys.ca>
Cc: scott miller <macatawa@hotmail.com>
Date: Friday, June 05, 1998 9:31 PM
Subject: Re: Short in my instrument cluster


>I had a pulsing speedo in one of my '89 200tqs.  I traced the problem to a
>faulty connection between the speedometer head and the printed circuit
>board of the instrument cluster.  I unsoldered the four pins which make
>that connection, soldered in wires from an RJ-11 phone jack and then
>reassembled the IC with two halves of the phone jack plugged together and
>taped to the back side of the IC.  It solved the problem.
>
>It only took me about 18 months to finally get it figured out.
>
>If you want more details drop me a note.
>
>At 07:36 PM 6/5/98 -0400, you wrote:
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: scott miller <macatawa@hotmail.com>
>>To: FRED MUNRO <munrof@isys.ca>
>>Date: Thursday, June 04, 1998 5:44 PM
>>Subject: Short in my instrument cluster
>>
>>
>>>Yes, the whack on the dash did the trick last night.  I suspect I need
>>>to pull my dash anyway, the speedo was pulsing on this cold morning.  My
>>>synchros did this when cold 'till I pulled apart the speedos and applied
>>>fresh teflon grease.  How painfull will pulling a dash be?  Do these '90
>>>speedos come apart as easily as older VW/Audi?
>>>
>>>Thanks for the clues!
>>>
>>>Scott
>>
>>
>>Hi Scott;
>>
>>    I've never had one of these electronic speedos apart. I think the
forces
>>in them are so small ( similar to those in an analog voltmeter of ammeter)
>>that teflon grease could gum up the works. If it is pulsing, it could be
>>another symptom of poor connections. It could also be a faulty sensor or
>>speedo head. Hope it is just connectors!
>>    BTW, before you pull the instrument cluster, cover the top of your
>>interior trim under the cluster with masking tape. This prevents unsightly
>>gashes in the shiny polyurethane covering the wood veneer!
>>
>>Good luck! HTH
>>
>>Fred Munro
>>'91 200q  254k km
>>
>>
>>
>___
>   Bob
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