Don't remove the ignition amps...
#1
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Don't remove the ignition amps...
...unless you have spares!
Yesterday, I was cleaning/protecting all the connectors under the hood of the '86 that I could reach, when I decided that it would be a good idea to put new heat transfer paste under the ignition amps.
Bad idea. The old paste had turned into a glue which was stronger than the glue which holds the amps together! Both of them separated, and the little wires to the hybrid chip pulled out.
On a good note, I wanted to replace them eventually anyway, and my LAPS (Halsey Import), ordered for Monday (from WorldPAC), german made Hüco's, for only $32 each.
Ignition switch unit - 928 602 706 01 - Bosch 0 227 100 124
Also used on later 944, 924S, Carrera2/4.
Yesterday, I was cleaning/protecting all the connectors under the hood of the '86 that I could reach, when I decided that it would be a good idea to put new heat transfer paste under the ignition amps.
Bad idea. The old paste had turned into a glue which was stronger than the glue which holds the amps together! Both of them separated, and the little wires to the hybrid chip pulled out.
On a good note, I wanted to replace them eventually anyway, and my LAPS (Halsey Import), ordered for Monday (from WorldPAC), german made Hüco's, for only $32 each.
Ignition switch unit - 928 602 706 01 - Bosch 0 227 100 124
Also used on later 944, 924S, Carrera2/4.
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Originally Posted by PorKen
...unless you have spares!
... The old paste had turned into a glue which was stronger than the glue which holds the amps together! Both of them separated, and the little wires to the hybrid chip pulled out.
... The old paste had turned into a glue which was stronger than the glue which holds the amps together! Both of them separated, and the little wires to the hybrid chip pulled out.
Maybe a good idea to renew the paste before it's 20 years old?
#4
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Hey guys, tell us more about this heat transfer paste! I've never heard of it before. We're talking about those finned boxes just next to the hood latch, right? This paste is supposed to help dissipate heat faster, is that correct?
#5
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Originally Posted by chaadster
Hey guys, tell us more about this heat transfer paste! I've never heard of it before. We're talking about those finned boxes just next to the hood latch, right? This paste is supposed to help dissipate heat faster, is that correct?
#7
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From Big Dave's book of auto repair:
If it's not broken - fix it until it is!
If it's not broken - fix it until it is!
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#8
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The ignition stages are on the front right of the car - looking at the engine bay from the front. They're under a 2"x6" plastic cover in front of the light bar. The black box with the heat dissipation fins is for the electric fans IIRC.
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Originally Posted by danglerb
Silicone grease should never harden, so maybe it was replaced once before with some kind of glue?
According to what I found when looking into it several years ago, the apparent most common failure mode for the ignition stages is heat.
Last edited by worf928; 01-15-2007 at 08:39 AM.
#11
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White thermal slicone paste and silicone dielectic grease have been used for along time to help ignition modules transfer the heat they create. The paste tends to harden after a long time.
#12
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If someone who has one of these apart would care to experiment, it would be good to find out what it takes to loosen that paste. WD-40, PB Blaster, Kroil, etc? Maybe there's something that won't harm paint or plastic but will loosen those suckers right up.
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Big recall on Fords for failure of the ignition module on the distributor. It had the white heat paste, but, alas, it was still too hot and the units often failed. Aftermarket has remount kits which move the unit to a cooler spot. The grease Ford used stayed quite soft - I've removed many and they aren't too stuck. I can't believe our units get that hot based on where they are. Heat must be internal. On the Fords I don't know which way they expected the heat to flow - the engine had to be hotter than the chips - what were they thinking? I think ours are in a great spot (as long as water isn't an issue).