ck3 wrote:I've been driving the same Saturn SL for the past 17 years. Unfortunately, time and New England winters have taken their toll.
The fuse box became corroded and had to be replaced a while back. There have been intermittent electrical issues triggered by moisture including a bogus service engine soon light and false service codes (camshaft, maps, and, more recently,evap sensors), which will all prevent me from passing the CT emissions test. I have to park in a humid garage, so the aforementioned light is now on more often than it's not.
Portions of the nest wiring were replaced along with the fuse box, but some random patch is still corroded. My usual mechanic reset codes today, but the system will likely fail to recalibrate properly during the next 150 miles of driving before repeating the emissions test. Do any mechanically-inclined ILFers have suggestions for preventing moisture from affecting my car's electrical system? Thanks in advance for any assistance.
Sounds like a bigger problem than just moisture (but possibly began with the wet(. I would check all chasis ground points and sand paper both the chasis and terminal/bolt. Swab the crap outta stuff with dielectric grease (and check it regularly).
It shouldn't be that bad though...I would think parts would have rust through before electrical systems...maybe at a ground point?
Maybe case the fuse box in some kind of military ammo case. Or replace the seals/add some to the box. Silicon every opening. Find every electrical connection that is exposed in the car, dry them out, clean them with abrasive, grease up some, then tape the crap outta 'em.
Having a GM car from probably around the same era (we used to have another), the sensors are a damp weak point...as is the computer soldering. Replace as many sensors as you can afford...or at least test them. Even in CA, with no moisture, some of mine will never ever trip or report.
My wife's old mailbu had bad seals all over the electrical and it lived in the driest of the dry. It also had bad soldering on some chip controllers that would trip the dummy light.
I'd say get rid of it and find a cheap car that is pre emissions and has no electrical. Basically what I did (after fighting sensor failures on a Ford escort and now a Silverado).