Picture shows a de-soldering iron from Radio Shack. Small hole on tip is very handy for slipping on wire extrusions for a good repair of cold solder joints. It heats the wire instead of the solder to correct common cause of cold solder joints. It took me less than a minute to fix seven joints on my cruise control brain. The small hole means my less than steady hands was not a problem. Apply heat and watch the soldier change color to the base then stop. Adding more solder is not recommended because excess solder is a common problem and not needed to fix a cold joint.

 

I used this to remove the solder when replacing the A/C head unit 2amp relay. Replaced with the Radio Shack relay. Used one hand with solder gun to heat the solder then the other hand to vacuum the heated blob. This can be bought at most electronics stores. Search for Solder Sucker.

 

I have been using these for years and it is definitely the way to go. That Radio Shack thing looks very unwieldly.

 

I use the old school copper desoldering braid for the AC relay and shift indicator bulbs and it has sucked up the solder pretty well.

 

Wick works well, but you run the risk of damaging the circuit "land" if used improperly. You don't have to keep the iron on the land nearly as long with either of the above "suckers".

 

Couldn't you just re-flow each solder joint instead of desoldering and resoldering?

 

Sorry, a little misleading. The tool is a desoldering iron but only if you suck with the bulb. I just reflowed but the small hole on the desoldering iron makes it very easy.