Captain_Slow

Any other common or clever uses for the 3M caulk strip? I have a good bit left over after replacing the recirc actuator and resealing the box. It is really good stuff...very sticky and seems like it will never dry out and crack.

worf928

Tons.

First to mind: rattling speaker grills.

M. Requin

^+1. As long as you just need a little bit of sticky, and don't mind a little bit of messy, there is a lot you can do with it. But most things I've used it for (speaker grills next, Dave, thanks for the tip!) don't use much, so you can count on having it around for a while. Actually, I'm thinking of some Halloween costume uses now...

linderpat

A little piece/dab goes a long way on, for example, on the inner rim of the socket to hold the nut for the steering wheel - so it doesn't fall out when putting that nut back on.

Captain_Slow

Great tips! I have a speaker grill that needs a dab...great idea!! I kind of went a bit overkill on the recirc box reseal, but I have lots left. Because Martin mentioned Halloween costumes I'm thinking more broadly for applications.

reanimotion

The areas shown should be cleaned up - treated for rust - and resealed.

mkriete

Back together! Is there a good way to tell when it is "tight enough?" I can't tell if the stripe caulk is squeezing from the fire wall side. _

worf928

You can use an inspection mirror.

Test your work by dumping water around the HVAC fan housing: make sure it all drains on the engine-side of the fire wall with nary a molecule of H2O on the fuse panel-side.

Edit: if you cannot see the 3m squeezed-out, a bit, from the perimeter of the box, you probably didn't use enough.

Test. And test again.

worf928

You have a loose/cut ground wire?

The rest look like a good cleaning wouldn't hurt.

mkriete

Thanks. I have a bit squeezing out from the front and sides. I used 3 stripes around the entire perimeter (about 1/4 of a box). I'll see if I can get a mirror in the there.

Thanks for pointing out the ground. Wonder what that is for?

worf928

Sounds about right.

Given the above, I'd dump water on it now and check for leaks.

No idea. You'll need to trace it back to the source. If the source is the CE Panel or ECUs (etc.) then you can figure out from the wiring diagrams what circuit it's associated with.

You may find that the other end isn't connected either: a remnant of some PO's excursion into after-market gizmos.

I once found two almost-complete sets of stereo wiring 'loose' in the interior. And there was a working stereo (for small values of 'working' and 'stereo.')