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Pete, it is pretty easy to get the ECM off the engine block to check the connectors out. Mine has plastic covers over the connectors so you can't see much without getting them off first. I believe the connectors on the right hand side as you look at the ECM are the ones that communicate with the transmission and other devices. As far as oil temp rise from the use of the retarder I see about 230 F going down a long hill, as soon the retarder comes off the temp goes back to 190/200 range in a few seconds, I'm OK with this temp using synthetic fluid, it is well below the 300 F max. temp.
Harry, as far as cleaners go I have no idea what is recommended by Detroit if anything. Maybe someone else can help here. This is what I did, with the ECM in hand I held it up side down and sprayed the pins with contact cleaner being as careful as I could not to get much past the board the pins were mounted on, the board is not sealed from the inside of the ECM, set the ECM on a rag in the same position to let it dry out, then did the same thing with the other side. Used the same stuff on the female connectors but sprayed them down like they were diseased and blew them out with compressed air. Then assembled the connectors to the ECM with it off the block and sealed them to the ECM with Aqua Seal, this is some stuff I get from a friend that is a lineman, I'm trying to find out who the manufacture is so I can post it, it comes in a plan white box with no information on it, (showed some of this stuff to Mango at the rally, he liked it) I hope it can be sold to the general public.
Jon's routine of disconnecting and reconnecting sounds like a real good idea.
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In another month or so Ohio and other states in the midwest will begin spraying an anti icing solution of sugar beet juice and calcium on the highways - this solution prevents ice accumulations down into the mid/low 20's and this stuff loves electrical contacts! Many truckers are using a dielectric grease such as: http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut...-Up_Grease.htm , as part of a scheduled maintenance program to extend terminal life.
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Orren is on the money with that comment. My corroded terminal connections were likely the result of the road salt or whatever chemicals they used to keep the roads clear.
On our first bus I would guess almost 25% of its total miles were accumulated while driving in the winter in the rust belt, but I don't know if that was any worse than the salt laden air along the coasts with high humidity. The connections are supposed to be tight enough so that corrosion cannot occur, but I doubt if that is the case over the long term.
