Yesterday I spent some quality time with the '40 and took on a little project that I've had on my list for a while...

I started by cleaning all of the relays under the hood. Fuel pump/O2 sensor, compressor clutch, cooling fan, etc. The contexts were pretty horrible. I wire brushed them until they were all shiny and smooth and cleaned the relay bases with DeOxIt.

The most time consuming part was removing and cleaning every single fuse in the 3 fuse boxes. They were pretty bad as well. Lots of oxidation, dull grayish-white.

I wasn't expecting any difference really, but I have to tell you... Wow! The starter cranks faster. The windows lift faster, the automatic seat belts don't chatter along the track. The door locks operate with more oomph. And for the first time since I've owned the car, my voltage gauge sits steady at 13v instead of 11.5 or 12. At night with a blinker on, at a stop, the gauge would bounce slightly with the rhythm of the blinker. No more. Even the brake hydraulic pump motor has a different pitch and pumps up faster. I'm a believer!

Clean your fuses! Clean your relays! Clean your grounds! Trust me, it's worth it.