Will standard rubbing alcohol dissolve ATF residue? [message #299967] |
Sun, 01 May 2016 06:57 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030 Registered: January 2004 Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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It is a long story but I have a solenoid that controls vacuum to an actuator for an automotive HVAC air door. That solenoid is now sticking and will not close all the way. When energized the solenoid only provides about 4 to 5 PSI to to the actuator instead of normal 15 or so to operate the door. To remove to this solenoid I will have to tear apart the entire front of the dash. It will not be a fun job. I have access to the hose the solenoid controls and it is moving some air through it when I unplug it.
I got this idea of sticking the hose in a bottle of rubbing alcohol (or something else) and sucking some alcohol through it (and the solenoid valve) and on into the engine. I can not actually see the solenoid but I do have access to the hoses going to it.
Any ideas will be readily accepted.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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Re: Will standard rubbing alcohol dissolve ATF residue? [message #299974 is a reply to message #299967] |
Sun, 01 May 2016 08:55 |
Dennis S
Messages: 3046 Registered: November 2005
Karma: 2
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Ken
Boeshield is an excellent cleaner and lubricant - it will dissolve gasoline varnish - and I would think would work well.
http://boeshield.com
I use it on electrical panels and even antique fishing reels.
Dennis
Ken Burton wrote on Sun, 01 May 2016 06:57It is a long story but I have a solenoid that controls vacuum to an actuator for an automotive HVAC air door. That solenoid is now sticking and will not close all the way. When energized the solenoid only provides about 4 to 5 PSI to to the actuator instead of normal 15 or so to operate the door. To remove to this solenoid I will have to tear apart the entire front of the dash. It will not be a fun job. I have access to the hose the solenoid controls and it is moving some air through it when I unplug it.
I got this idea of sticking the hose in a bottle of rubbing alcohol (or something else) and sucking some alcohol through it (and the solenoid valve) and on into the engine. I can not actually see the solenoid but I do have access to the hoses going to it.
Any ideas will be readily accepted.
Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
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Re: Will standard rubbing alcohol dissolve ATF residue? [message #299977 is a reply to message #299967] |
Sun, 01 May 2016 09:02 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447 Registered: October 2006 Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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WD-40. Disolves grease and tar and leaves light lube film. Spray straw. Or if electrical spray Caig F5 in there. Safe on plastics and rubber. Not sure if you are talking vac motor or actual solenoid. F5 would clean and lube either.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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Re: [GMCnet] Will standard rubbing alcohol dissolve ATF residue? [message #299987 is a reply to message #299979] |
Sun, 01 May 2016 14:58 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030 Registered: January 2004 Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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I am hoping that Emery hops in here. I like all of hte ideas presented. I was worried about alcohol being too strong, but he other ideas like WD-40 and Boeshield and Electrical contact cleaner sound great. I also though of Kroil, but I think that is more for rust.
Where these solenoids are buried makes it impossible to even see them. There are 5 of them in one manifold but so far it looking like only one of them is sticking. That is why I'm looking to clean them in place using their hoses. I can not even tell what they are made of but I'm afraid that they are some kind of plastic. Everything on cars these days is plastic. I'm tempted to take a trip to a junk yard and look at one that has the dash torn out just to see what I'm working with.
Here is the item I'm working on. Getting to it is the issue.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/131744512447?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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Re: [GMCnet] Will standard rubbing alcohol dissolve ATF residue? [message #300006 is a reply to message #299989] |
Mon, 02 May 2016 03:16 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030 Registered: January 2004 Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Thanks Emery. I tried your mineral spirits suggestion and after ingesting about 1/2 cupp of the stuff the pressure (vacuum) came up to 15. Te engine did not seen to care about ingesting that little bit of mineral spirits.
I figured it was fixed. Guess what? It is still failing to activate the actuator.
I disconnected the vacuum line at the actuator and pumped it down with a hand held vacuum pump. It holds 20 for a reasonable period of time and the actuator moves slightly.
This actuator has two sides with two vacuum hoses. I have not tried to pump the other side of the actuator yet because that is the side where it is parked.
I tried to disconnect the actuator from the door it is operating but was unsuccessful due to a push nut installed on a plastic bell crank. It is just about impossible to get any tools up there. I got tired of standing on my head under the dash so I quit for the day.
I actually have two problems. The second one is an electric operated actuator that operates the blend door. I found a cracked gear inside hte actuator and replaced it thinking that would fix that problem. It did not, so I need to remove it again to see what is wrong with it. It is held in place with two screws that I can only move about 1/8 of a turn at a time.
So I am sharing my time between these two problems.
Maybe I'll try again tomorrow.
Thanks for the help.
Ken B.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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Re: [GMCnet] Will standard rubbing alcohol dissolve ATF residue? [message #300024 is a reply to message #300006] |
Mon, 02 May 2016 10:43 |
Bullitthead
Messages: 1411 Registered: November 2013
Karma: 5
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If that actuator only moves "slightly" with 20 inches of vacuum, you've got something obstructing it's movement. Maybe you had a visit from Mickey or Minnie and he/she built a nest or chewed something to pieces in the ductwork (plenum). Pretty sure it didn't die in there as you would smell that as soon as air moves anywhere in the system.
Terry Kelpien
ASE Master Technician
73 Glacier 260
Smithfield, Va.
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Re: [GMCnet] Will standard rubbing alcohol dissolve ATF residue? [message #300073 is a reply to message #300024] |
Tue, 03 May 2016 00:28 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030 Registered: January 2004 Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Yes, that is where I'm headed next. I did not get to work on it today and tomorrow I'll be packing for the BS rally so I guess it will sit there for a week or two just occupying a space in my garage. I was going to take it to BS but now I'm using my wife's Jimmy instead. She will have to drive my truck for a week or so as she is not going to BS.
Thanks for all of the help and suggestions. I'll let you know what I eventually find wrong.
Man I hate working under a dash.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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