PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-683

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 683

OCTOBER 2009
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-683 - Page 4 of 33
w
hat happens when you get too much water on a piece of electronic equipment?
Usually a loud ZAP, a whiff of ozone and a shorted-out piece of equipment!
That’s also true for the embedded diagnostics (ED) sidecar, NSN 6625-01-497-
1915, on your M1A1 tank. Rain, ice, wash water and condensation are all dangerous
for a sidecar that’s improperly sealed.
Moisture can coat the sidecar’s connectors and circuit boards, causing short
circuits. It also promotes corrosion that can quickly put the sidecar on the sideline.
Prevention
Pages 1-1 through 1-3 of TM 9-2350-264-20-1-1 (Mar 03 w/Ch 4, Jun 09) and Page 2-4 of
TM 9-2350-264-20-2-1 (Apr 03, w/Ch 4, Jul 09) tell you some of the cleaning procedures to
follow if you spot moisture problems. But your best bet is to stop those problems before
they can get started. Here’s how:
1.
Avoid using high-pressure water when
cleaning your tank. That forces water into
places you don’t want it to go. Use low-pressure
water instead. And use only a dampened cloth
for cleaning around electronic equipment.
2.
Keep all hatches closed when the tank is
not being used. That keeps out unwanted
rainwater.
3.
Check all hatch seals and make sure they‘re in
good condition. A closed hatch won’t do much
good if water seeps in past a damaged seal.
4.
Make sure you have the newest version
of the sidecar mounting bracket, NSN
2590-01-548-9336. The pulse jet system/
transmission bracket positions the sidecar
so that its connector faces down. Older
brackets place the sidecar connector up,
making it easier for moisture to get inside.
5.
Connect and seal the sidecar cables
properly. There’s a red line at the base of
the sidecar’s threaded jack. If you can still
see the red line after the cable is in place,
it’s not fully connected. That also makes it
easier for moisture to get inside.
5
PS 683
OCT 09
M548A1 Differential Oil Temperature Lead Clamp
NSN 5340-00-291-5323, shown as Item 3 in Fig 123 of TM 9-2350-247-24P (Mar 03),
brings
100
loop clamps for the differential oil temperature lead on your M548A1
cargo carrier. Problem is, you only need one clamp. Use NSN 5340-00-200-3045 (PN
AS21919WDG24, CAGE 81343) instead. That NSN brings just
one
loop clamp and will
save you some dough. Make a note until the TM is updated.
When Failure Occurs
No matter how hard you try to prevent them, sidecar failures still occasion-
ally happen.
You’ll know a sidecar has
problems
when
a
six
digit
fault code (900001 to 900020)
appears
on
the
redesigned
turret
networks
box
(RTNB)
diagnostics display. The last two
digits pinpoint the location of
the bad sidecar as detailed in
the full diagnostics software.
Write down the fault code on
the DA Form 5988-E and include
the run ID number like it says in
Chap 3 of TM 9-2350-264-10-2.
That makes ±nding and replacing
a bad sidecar much easier for
maintenance personnel.
water and sidecars
don’t
mix
M1A1 Tank…
water and sidecars
don’t
mix
Check hatch seals for damage
Red line still
showing?
Cable not fully
connected
Look for six digit fault
code on RTNB display
Hey, this water
isn’t good for the
sidecar, y’know?!
683.04-05.indd
1-2
8/22/09
3:39:13 PM
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