Loose electrical connections on auxiliary air valve

mjleamy · Post by **mjleamy** » Fri Aug 17, 2012 9:19 pm

The male electrical connectors on my auxiliary air valve (1979 528i) can spin about their rivet and are generally loose. I imagine this must be detrimental to the valve getting the correct signal (is it pulse width modulated?). Anyone try to solder these things, or is this condition ok.

Thanks! Mike

T.Hanson · Post by **T.Hanson** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:31 am

In lieu of no replies, my '79 has the older," Nemo," type aux air valve. Without looking at it, the only wire harness connectors I know of look like the injector type; boxes that clip over the sensors. Those two and a ground wire.

All should be clean, solidly connected. Be very careful to take the small wire clip off the box (cap) first. A bit of a pain, getting an xacto knife blade between the clip and body, to wedge in a small screw driver, pull the side of the clip out enough to take it off with a needle nose. ( and avoid dropping it ).

The box (caps) are brittle from heat and age so horsing them off invites searching for new ones, to strip the old one off, solder, etc.

Finally, the brown ground wires everywhere on the car have to be clean, solidly connected or all sorts of mystical problems start happening.

mjleamy · Post by **mjleamy** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 2:51 pm

I have the new, smaller type, but thanks for your reply.

T.Hanson · Post by **T.Hanson** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:04 pm

The later type is the same, with one wiring harness connector cap. See FAQ. Interesting you have the newer '81 version, as the wiring harness isn't easy to adapt.

Trying to imagine what male ends of what can be spinning around. I expect you already know current likes clean, solid connections.

mjleamy · Post by **mjleamy** » Mon Aug 20, 2012 7:33 am

Mine does not have a single injector-style connector. Instead it is two individual leads. It looks just like this one: http://compare.ebay.com/like/3306278396 ... s&var=sbar

I found another 79 on the web that shows the same valve. Look for the fourth picture down: http://www.oocities.org/tunaoue/528i/1979-528i.html

mjleamy · Post by **mjleamy** » Mon Aug 20, 2012 7:43 am

ok, just read the auxiliary air valve FAQ. It looks like I am confusing the AC valve with the auxiliary air valve. Interestingly, when you search for auxiliary air valve on the web, you get the AC valve.

T.Hanson · Post by **T.Hanson** » Mon Aug 20, 2012 2:08 pm

Correct-a-mundo. FAQ's are good.

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Mon Aug 20, 2012 3:34 pm

mjleamy wrote:ok, just read the auxiliary air valve FAQ. It looks like I am confusing the AC valve with the auxiliary air valve. Interestingly, when you search for auxiliary air valve on the web, you get the AC valve.

Correct. It's really two different aux valves. You can just solder the terminals onto the posts on the A/C valve after you clean it up a little.