Author Topic: STOP! DO NOT REPLACE YOUR JBOX! Fix it for FREE!  (Read 3882 times)

Offline gregman_1

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STOP! DO NOT REPLACE YOUR JBOX! Fix it for FREE!
« on: January 28, 2014, 10:22:16 PM »
A while back, my Connie started quitting intermittently, and eventually quit starting completely.  There were a couple things that had quit with the ignition as well, leading me to suspect the much maligned junction box. 

I pulled the cover off the box and found quite a bit of corrosion on the solder joints.  Once I cleaned off the solder and pulled out the jeweler's loop, I found that nearly every solder joint was cold (not shiny, it means the joint was not heated completely and it makes a poor connection), and two of the solder joints were cracked!  I fired up the iron, removed all the original solder using a solder sucker and wicking tape, and replaced it all with fresh solder (I prefer a 63/37 solder, some retailers call it "magic" solder as it has no "plastic phase" and goes straight from liquid to solid when soldering, making it much easier to work with).  I then sealed it all up by spraying the entire board with satin clear coat (you can also use products designed for this purpose, like Corrosion-X, but I find the clear coat to work just as well and it's much cheaper).  I haven't had a problem with it in 17,000 miles.

If you are no good with a soldering iron, PM me for my address, send me your jbox and I will fix it for free.
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Offline SteveJ.

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Re: STOP! DO NOT REPLACE YOUR JBOX! Fix it for FREE!
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2014, 05:11:26 PM »
Way cool. And thanks for the offer.
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Offline Daytona_Mike

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Re: STOP! DO NOT REPLACE YOUR JBOX! Fix it for FREE!
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2014, 07:39:54 PM »
Corrosion-X is a very good product. I use that and their Reject-X.
Thanks for offering to do that. I too have touched up a couple of J-boxes for friends by upgrading the relays.
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Offline Rick Hall

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Re: STOP! DO NOT REPLACE YOUR JBOX! Fix it for FREE!
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2014, 09:21:01 PM »
Along these lines, I've a boatload of replacement relays in my shop.

If resoldering the pads doesn't fix the issue, it often does, I can do a relay swop for a few clams.

Rick
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: STOP! DO NOT REPLACE YOUR JBOX! Fix it for FREE!
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2014, 02:20:09 PM »
You sure you want clams?  I don't think they hold up well out of water.
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