Beware of using petroleum jelly on connections! I have experience with this. When I was younger (long ago), I used petroleum jelly on almost all my connections. I had to reconsider after an enlightening experience.
I was driving a Triumph TR4-A at the time and was having problems with it starting. I replaced all the usual suspects: battery, starter, solenoid, etc. The problem kept recurring within a couple of months. I had dutifully coated my battery posts with petroleum jelly (remember the books said "coat battery connections with grease." After several of these failures, I was checking my battery voltage at the posts and discovered that the posts seemed to have an insulating film on them. I could barely get any contact at all. After further investigation, I determined that the petroleum jelly had hardened into a wonderful insulator (I suspect from the heat of current flowing through it). I cleaned the posts of the insulating film, reconnected my cables, and never had another problem. After rereading the information on using petroleum jelly on battery connections, I stumbled upon a properly written method: use it to cover the top of the battery post/cable connection to prevent moisture from creeping down between the post and cable connection. Since then, I only use petroleum jelly in this fashion. YMMV Tom Potter -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chuck Kuecker Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 6:24 AM To: Air-Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List Subject: Re: [vintagvw] 68 bug Headlight problem ...Petroleum jelly will evaporate too - just takes longer _______________________________________________ vintagvw site list [email protected] http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw
