While servicing my AW4, with the pan off, I went to check the solenoid resistance

to get apart the connector, it seems to require a finger to be depressed, that allows a triangular part to slide under a plastic bridge

upon pressing on the side of the connector, the finger snapped instantly

I pressed ever so delicately on the next one, and it also snapped instantly.

It seems the plastic gets very fragile from bathing in hot fluid ?

has anyone else encountered this?

all I could do under the circumstances is press the connector back together, but only the pressure of male/female spade holds it, no locking piece.
I did not want to wedge something in there. I fear eventually the connectors will vibrate loose

Solutions ? Are the plastic connectors available new? (wiring harness ends)

otherwise, I would have to fool around with making a tight fit crimp, or some other solution that does not come to mind as yet

 

I don't have first hand experience with the Solenoid connectors, but on other items when the connector is brittle and the lock/clip snaps, I try to use a tiny zip tie to keep the male/female locked together. Sometimes this works great, other times it can be hard to find anything for the zip tie to hold on to. I mention it in hopes that it might give you an option or more ideas. Another option is to use a small section of heat shrink tubing that is just big enough to get over the connectors, then shrink it to form a lock.

With the vibrations and heat cycles that occur there, and the pain of getting access to them, you are right to want to get them re-locked somehow.

 

A replacement set of solenoids isn't very expensive, these are in my AW4 now - working great so far
https://www.ebay.com/itm/32175038030...m=321750380309

 

2 things come to mind.

The AW4 was never intended to have the screen changed, but only drain and fills.

Secondly, solenoid resistance can be checked from the engine bay.

 

The broken connector is on the harness side. Not the solenoid side.

 

Sorry, didn't catch that.

 

Isn't it always?????