dr bob

What Stan said-- +1

Last I looked that cover was in the $5-6 price range, so no reason not to have one.



The 14-pin connector is subject to water/detergent/road salt/etc. abuse as Stan suggests, probably to the point where it needs the same consideration as the battery terminals. It needs to be shiny clean, not just dull-grey clean, and a small brass-bristled toothbrush will do the trick nicely on the upper 'pin' side. The socket side, that's the bottom/fixed section, deserves a DeOxit treatment. DeOxit is the probably best of the consumer terminal cleaners, usually available at Radio Shack stores in the US. Do the wires and the terminals at the adjacent jump-start post too, after disconnecting the battery ground strap at the rear apron of course. Coat the clean-and-shiny jump-start terminal wiring with a thin bit of Vaseline after assembly, to protect your handywork. On the 14-pin, a thin layer on the joining faces of the two connector parts will do a little to help, and a bit more around the split between the parts after assembly will do the rest. For the low-voltage DC stuff in the car, Vaseline is as good as that expensive dielectric grease for most duties.

These simple steps will go a long way toward keeping the critical electrical connections there in good shape.

AO

Thanks to all fro the responses. Big thanks to Borys for teh link to the wire supplier. I'll try to take pictures and document as I proceed.

-AO