Product Link ® Elite PLE742 Systems Caterpillar

Electrical Connector - Inspect

Usage:

- PL7

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Accidental engine starting can cause injury or death to personnel working on the equipment.
To avoid accidental engine starting, disconnect the battery cable from the negative (−) battery terminal. Completely tape all metal surfaces of the disconnected battery cable end in order to prevent contact with other metal surfaces which could activate the engine electrical system.
Turn the battery disconnect switch to the OFF position and lockout the battery disconnect switch with a safety lock.

Place a Special Instruction, SEHS7332, "Do Not Operate" tag at the start switch and battery disconnect location to inform personnel that the machine is being worked on.

Reference: Special Instruction, SEHS9615, "Servicing DT Connectors".

Reference: Special Instruction, REHS0148, "Listing Of Deutsch Connector Components"

Reference: Special Instruction, SEHS9065, "Use Of CE Connector Tools".

Reference: Service Magazine, SEPD0342, 27, January 97, "Field Repair Of Single Wire Breaks In Harnesses (Sealed Splice)".

Reference: Service Magazine, SEPD0371, 28, July 97, "Protection Of Unsealed Electrical Terminations For Machines In Corrosive Applications".

Reference: Service Magazine, SEPD0473, 24, May 99, "New DT Connector Plugs With Improved Seal Retention".

Reference: Service Magazine, SEPD0545, 09, October 00, "Dielectric Grease Should Not Be Used In Electrical Connectors".

Reference: Pocket Guide, SEBD0402, "Guidelines For Routing And Installing Wire Harness Assemblies".

Use this procedure under the following situation:

Use the following steps to help determine if the connector is the cause of the problem. If a problem is found in the electrical connector, repair the connector and verify that the problem has been corrected.

The following background information is related to this procedure:

Many of the operational procedures and the diagnostic code procedures in this troubleshooting guide will instruct you to check a specific electrical connector.

Intermittent electrical problems are often caused by poor connections. Always check for an active diagnostic code before breaking any connections. Also, always check for an active diagnostic code after the connector is reconnected to verify that the problem disappears.

Simply disconnecting the connectors and then reconnecting the connectors can temporarily solve a problem at times. If this occurs, likely causes are loose terminals, bent terminals, improperly crimped terminals, corrosion, or harness routing that is improper.

The original source of the problem must then be identified to ensure that the problem does not reoccur.

Follow this procedure to inspect the connectors thoroughly, to determine if the connectors are the cause of the problem.

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Illustration 1	g00820688
(1) Correctly Routed Harness (2) Correctly Inserted Plug (3) Incorrectly Routed Harness (4) Incorrectly Inserted Plug

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Illustration 2	g00690571
Proper Installation of Plug

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Illustration 3	g00828600
DT Type sealing plug The 8T-8729 Connector Pin (2) and the 8T-8730 Connector Socket (1) is designed to accept only one 16/18 AWG wire. Do not insert multiple wires of a smaller wire size. An incorrect method would be using two 24 AWG wires. The 9W-0852 Connector Pin and the 9W-0844 Connector Socket are designed to accept only one 14 AWG wire. Do not insert multiple wires of a smaller wire size. An example of an incorrect method is the use of two 20 AWG wires.

CHECK THE CONNECTORS.
1. Ensure that the connector is properly locked. Also, ensure that the two halves of the connector cannot be pulled apart.
2. Verify that the latch tab of the connector is properly latched. Verify that the latch tab of the connector is fully latched.
  Expected Result: The connector will securely lock. The connector and the locking mechanism are without cracks or breaks.
  Results:
  OK - The connector will securely lock. The connector and the locking mechanism are without cracks or breaks. Proceed to test step 2.
  NOT OK - A problem exists with the connector.
  Repair: Repair the connector or replace the connector, as required.
  STOP.
CHECK THE ALLEN HEAD SCREW ON THE HARNESS CONNECTOR OF THE ECM.
1. Ensure that the connector bolt is properly tightened. Be careful not to tighten the bolt too much. The bolt may break.
2. Do not exceed 6.0 N·m (53.0 lb in) of torque on the connector bolt of the harness when the connector is being installed on the ECM.
  Expected Result: The harness connector is secure and the connector bolt of the ECM is properly torqued.
  Results:
  OK - The harness connector is secure and the connector is properly torqued. Proceed to test step 3.
  NOT OK - A problem exists with the connector.
  Repair: Secure the harness connector of the ECM. Ensure that the connector bolt is properly torqued.
  STOP.
PERFORM A PULL TEST ON EACH CONNECTOR CONTACT.
1. Each connector contact should withstand 45 N (10 lb) of pull. Each wire should remain in the connector body. This test checks whether the wire was properly crimped in the contact and whether the contact was properly inserted into the connector.
2. The DT connectors use an orange wedge to lock the terminals in place.
3. Check to ensure that the orange wedge is not missing and that the orange wedge is installed properly on the DT connectors.
  Note: A Crimp Tool should ALWAYS be used to crimp wires on connector contacts. Do not solder the terminals. Use the proper Crimp Tool.
  Expected Result: Each connector contact should withstand 45 N (10 lb) of pull. Each wire remains in the connector body.
  Results:
  OK - Each connector contact withstands 45 N (10 lb) of pull. Each wire remains in the connector body. Proceed to test step 4.
  NOT OK - A problem exists with the connector.
  Repair: Repair the wiring or replace the connector contact.
  STOP.
CHECK THE WIRES FOR NICKS OR ABRASIONS IN THE INSULATION.
1. Carefully inspect each wire for signs of abrasion, nicks, or cuts.
  The following areas are locations that should be checked:
  - Exposed insulation
  - Points of rubbing wire
2. Check all the hold down clamps for the harness to verify that the harness is properly clamped. Also check all the hold down clamps for the harness to verify that the harness is not compressed by the clamp. Pull back the harness sleeves to check for a flattened portion of wire. The flattened portion of wire is caused by the clamp that holds the harness.
  Expected Result: The wires are free of abrasion, nicks, or cuts and the harness is properly clamped.
  Results:
  OK - The wires are free of abrasion, nicks, or cuts and the harness is properly clamped. Proceed to test step 5.
  NOT OK - A problem exists with the wiring.
  Repair: Repair the wires or replace the wires, as required.
  STOP.
CHECK THE CONNECTORS FOR MOISTURE OR CORROSION.
1. Ensure that the connector seals and the white sealing plugs are in place. If any of the seals or plugs are missing, replace the seal or plug. If necessary, replace the connector.
2. Check all the wiring harnesses to verify that the harness does not make a sharp bend out of a connector. A sharp bend will deform the connector seal and will create a path for the entrance of moisture. See Illustration 1.
  Note: It is normal to see some minor seal abrasion on the ECM connector seals. Minor seal abrasion will not allow the entry of moisture.
3. Thoroughly inspect ECM connectors for evidence of moisture entry. If moisture or corrosion is evident in the connector, the source of the moisture entry must be found and the source of the moisture entry must be repaired. If the source of the moisture entry is not repaired, the problem will reoccur. Simply drying the connector will not fix the problem. Likely paths for the entrance of moisture are from missing seals, improperly installed seals, nicks in exposed insulation, and improperly mated connectors.
  Note: Moisture can also travel from one connector through the wire to the ECM Connector. If moisture is found in the ECM connector, thoroughly check all connectors and wires on the harness that connect to the ECM. The ECM is not the source of the moisture. Do not replace an ECM if moisture is found in either ECM connector.
  Note: If corrosion is evident on the contacts or the connector, use only denatured alcohol to remove the corrosion. Use a cotton swab or a soft brush to remove the corrosion. Do not use cleaners that contain trichloroethylene because trichloroethylene may damage the connector.
  Expected Result: All the connectors should be coupled completely and all the seals should be inserted completely. The harness and the wiring should be free of corrosion, moisture, abrasion, or pinch points.
  Results:
  OK - All the connectors are coupled completely and all the seals are inserted completely. The harness and the wiring are free of corrosion, moisture, abrasions, or pinch points. Proceed to test step 6.
  NOT OK - A problem exists with the connector, the wiring, or the wiring harness. Moisture is present.
  Repair: Repair the connectors or wiring and/or replace the connectors or wiring. Ensure that all the seals are properly in place and ensure that the connectors are coupled completely. Verify that the repair eliminates the problem by operating the machine for several minutes and by checking again for moisture.
  STOP.
INSPECT THE CONNECTOR CONTACTS.
1. Verify that the contacts are not damaged. Verify that the contacts are properly aligned in the connector and verify that the contacts are properly located in the connector.
  Expected Result: The contacts are properly aligned and the contacts appear undamaged.
  Results:
  OK - The contacts are properly aligned and the contacts appear undamaged. Proceed to test step 7.
  NOT OK - A problem exists with the connector contacts.
  Repair: Repair the contacts and wiring and/or replace the contacts and wiring.
  STOP.
CHECK THE FIT OF THE CONTACTS.
1. Use a new pin contact. Insert the pin contact into each socket contact one at a time to check for a good grip on the pin contact by the socket contact.
2. Use a new socket contact. Insert the pin contact into each socket contact one at a time to check for a good grip on the pin contact by the socket contact. The pin contact is on the mating side of the connector.
3. The connector contact should stay connected when the connector is held in the position shown in Illustration 4. The connector contact is the pin contact or the socket contact.
  Expected Result: The pin contacts and the socket contacts appear to be OK.
  Results:
  OK - The pin contacts and the socket contacts appear to be OK. STOP.
  NOT OK - A problem exists with the connector terminal.
  Repair: Replace the connector contact.
  STOP.