Ancient wiring harness

[scitzz]

I bet we have all been there. Sometimes, when working on an older vehicle, you just barely brush against a wiring connector, and a wire just snaps in half. Age has made the wire so brittle, it just can barely stay in one piece, and just can't take any human contact whatsoever.

What do YOU do to avoid this, other than be careful/ don't touch?

Is there anything that makes wiring more supple, and able to be messed with? Heat, a spray?

[cway1319]

I think if you rubbed mineral oil on them it would bring some life to them

[Movin]

Hard wire or new connectors.

[scitzz]

Hard wire or new connectors.

???

Replace the wiring harness? That seems a bit drastic!

[Movin]

???

Replace the wiring harness? That seems a bit drastic!

No!! lol Hard wiring means cutting a connector out and solder-
heat shrink or crimp connect the circuits back together.

For a sensor you can attach a new end to the wire if the sensor
has no pigtail, or solder directly to the terminal..being mindful
where the heat goes.

[loknlode]

liquid plastic

[hodginsa]

I had this problem with an old 83 Volvo 240 I had, They used biodegradable wire insulation. Well I guess it seemed smart at the time, but 25 years later the wire harness was just one single wire inside of the real rubber protector! Sometimes there just isn't anything you can do but replace the wiring thats rotted.

[bravekozak]

New wiring harnesses are expensive, and take a lot of work to change. Here is the Pride part schematics. Prices can be found at Four Green.

[zoom zoom]

They don't make them like they used to.. we're refurbishing a 1948 model boat at work, and almost all of the old wiring is reusable. We're cutting most of it out anyway, just on principal, but it is/was still good wiring.

[rbrown]

http://www.painlesswiring.com/

But seriously. I've replaced whole harnesses and I've repaired others. If the insulation has become brittle there is no hope for it.

[scitzz]

http://www.painlesswiring.com/

But seriously. I've replaced whole harnesses and I've repaired others. If the insulation has become brittle there is no hope for it.

That is what I have been figuring, and I mean for more than the Festiva!

OK, Movin, I get ya, and yeah, had to hard wire before.

I was kind of taking a shot that someone might have a trick. I wonder what would happen if you use something like you use to restore bumpers, or STP treatment, or maybe use tire cleaner, like detailers do to plastic engine components.

[Movin]

For that like loknlode said, rubber liquid tape or tool handle dip.
for over all underhood sometimes just that part of the loom can
be wired in with a good used loom from somewhere not hot...

[scitzz]

For that like loknlode said, rubber liquid tape or tool handle dip.
for over all underhood sometimes just that part of the loom can
be wired in with a good used loom from somewhere not hot...

Ah. I think i see now, dose it real good, then it won't break?

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