Cascade Crew

QwkTrip · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:15 am Post subject: Proof that I am mentally unstable

So, that used to be a perfectly good 4th gen harness. Now I guess I should do the rest of the laundry so I have more room.

91RSVert · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:23 am Post subject:

Looks perfectly normal to me Cool

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:23 am Post subject:

I love hacking and whacking on wiring harnesses. I've got a big one to do myself.

Atleast GM kept things engine related together.

Mazda on the otherhand completely integrated the engine and dash and chassis harnesses. Hell the igintion coils aren't even part of the engine harness!

You lucky bastid!

QwkTrip · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:38 pm Post subject:

Now it is looking better! Smile

So far I've had to cut only 4 wires at the Positive and Negative commons to lop off the rear O2 sensors. Everything else is still in tact with a few connectors de-pinned to allow separate bundling of wires.

blue89 · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:26 pm Post subject:

Subaru has integrated chassis/engine harnesses as well.

Looks like you depinned the pcm connector, correct? I had good luck ordering pins from mouser or digikey for the sensors.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:53 pm Post subject:

Not a half bad method! Very Happy

QwkTrip · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:18 pm Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:09 pm Post subject:

Heat shrink butt connectors are awesome.

Just use the "uninsulated" bit of your crimpers. Heat the connector with a mini torch and you have a glued, sealed, excellent fit. We use them religiously at work and are warranty approved.

If you want to get hardcore with it, you can use regular heatsrink over the top. I'll snap a picture of the good ones.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:14 pm Post subject:

Before and after heat.

QwkTrip · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:39 pm Post subject:

What do you know about the heat solder connectors? The temperature rating can't be very high before solder reflow? Maybe if the connections are nowhere near engine exhaust then it might be okay?

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 6:01 pm Post subject:

I figure it this way. If these crimp ones are good enough for heavy semi use, they'll outlast the car.

I did about 40 wires on an engine ecm about a year and a half ago. Local truck, we do their services. No issues on the wiring itself.

Solder has it's place, but I you're correct, they get brittle and if not done properly can cause issues later. Thats even more why I like these guys, stiff in the middle, and the heatshrink part gives it the flex and it's much thicker than your store bought heat shrink so the protection is better too.

aaron_sK · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 7:52 pm Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:08 pm Post subject:

iansane · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:03 pm Post subject:

QwkTrip · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:36 pm Post subject:

What I would really like to do is use new wire everywhere without any splices, but that kind of defeats the purpose of buying a 4th gen harness except to see how it is put together.

Speaking of which, I found a place that will build a new harness for about $450 with the PCM length to whatever you need. That is darn reasonable! And they use all new Delphi connectors and split loom. Almost went that route except the fuse block was the cheap ugly kind without a proper B+ post and no internal buss bar, and I'd probably not be happy with where the wires are routed anyway.