Posted By: RP's R/T's
Dash Wiring- Can I save a few $$$ - 11/04/08 07:59 PM
I'm assembling the dash assembly for my Challenger. I started to clean things up and noticed that a section must have been burnt at some point. About a half dozen wires are toasted. I bought the car non-running so I don't know what might work, or what doesn't.
Instead of buying a whole new dash wiring assembly (Kaching!), is there anyone who will replace the wires that are bad, test it and re-wrap it? I'm wondering about Evan's, but that just came to mind. I'm not sure they do this, or even if it would be cost effective.
I really don't want a hack job, so I'll spend the money for a new one if I have to.
Posted By: CR8CRSHR
Re: Dash Wiring- Can I save a few $$$ - 11/04/08 08:31 PM
My suggestion is to obtain the color wiring schematics available out there. They are an invaluable tool when it comes to our rides. It will help you with your wire troubles and allow you to repair the bad wires. Otherwise the best solution is to get the replacement harness from M&H through Year One....Good Luck
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Dash Wiring- Can I save a few $$$ - 11/05/08 12:31 AM
I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you are in for a little work. I've been there done that. Back in the day, I helped repair several of my and my friends cars with wiring issues.
All the wire in these cars--and all other cars back then--is fairly cheap thermoplastic insulated. What this means is, that if ONE wire gets hot enough to melt the insulation and "toast" as you say, it generally melts--and shorts to--one or two or more wires AROUND it.
If you are gonna fix this thing, you need to pull the ENTIRE under dash harness out, lay it out on a bench, and untape it and inspect it from end to end. Leave small amounts of tape at the points where the harness branches, so you can tape it back up later. If you not the colors that were damaged, and the connectors they go to, and refer to a diagram, you can get a pretty good idea of what happened.
Posted By: Jim_Lusk
Re: Dash Wiring- Can I save a few $$$ - 11/05/08 06:32 AM
At shop rate of $90 (or more) per hour it'll be cheaper to buy new..............
Posted By: cogen80
Re: Dash Wiring- Can I save a few $$$ - 11/05/08 10:55 AM
man i think i would just break down and spend the money for a new harness. not worth having the car burn to the ground because you missed something in the harness.
Posted By: Hrtbkr
Re: Dash Wiring- Can I save a few $$$ - 11/05/08 12:25 PM
It depends if what's worth more to you-your time or your money. It's not THAT hard to pull the entire harness out of the car. Get the FSM, Check/repair one wire at a time. I recommend soldering repairs and shrink sleeve to insulate. Taping the wire branches is a good idea.
Plan on taking at least 8 hours for this venture, but you should have a good harness once you're done
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Dash Wiring- Can I save a few $$$ - 11/05/08 12:41 PM
arent dash harnesses close to $600??? thats alot of kaching for 5 or 6 burnt wires...
I fix my burnt wires (power to the ignition switch) and called it a day. cost me about $3
Posted By: cataclysm80
Re: Dash Wiring- Can I save a few $$$ - 11/05/08 06:16 PM
on my 70 cuda I removed the wrapping and wiped all the original harness wires down with solvent to clean and inspect them. I had several repairs to make because the harness had been cut in spots during removal (not by me). I made repairs with sodder, shrink wrap, and my factory service manual, then re-wrapped all the harness and installed it. This took an immense amount of time to do.
Now I still have some electrical gremlins due to corrosion on the wire under the insulation causing resistance, or possibly due to broken wires that I couldn't see under the insulation. I will NOT be trying this again. New harnesses only for me. Made by M&H ordered through year one whenever possible. It's both cheaper and better in the long run.
I would only recommend a repair if the car was running/working fine and then a problem develops that you can identify and fix.
If the car came to you not running and you have no knowledge of the harnesses past, don't waste your time trying to fix it.
Tav
Posted By: 69superbee383
Re: Dash Wiring- Can I save a few $$$ - 11/05/08 06:51 PM
New harness. If 6 are burned up others are heat damaged. Others still may have unseen damage and you could be chasing phantom electrical problems forever if the car doesnt burn up. Also check the bulkhead connections as well. I would rather spend 600 bucks and spend the time to do it right than do it on the cheap and deal with the possible issues.
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: Dash Wiring- Can I save a few $$$ - 11/05/08 07:23 PM
what part of the harness is it? heater control? lead to rear harness? headlights? ingnition? Check e-bay for a used unit. You might save a few bucks and headaches. I sold a very nice Charger harness a few back for under $100. I even tested circut by circut with a ohm meter.
Posted By: minivan
Re: Dash Wiring- Can I save a few $$$ - 11/05/08 07:48 PM
After watching a 67 chevelle, two weeks out of its frame off resto, burn to the ground with an electrical fire I decided to splurge on all 3 new harnesses for my car..
The new harnesses were so nice, pliable and fit perfectly.. When comparing to my old harnesses ( that didn't seem too bad) it was night and day.
With the YO discounts going on you can save a few hundred dollars on the price of new..
Posted By: Hrtbkr
Re: Dash Wiring- Can I save a few $$$ - 11/06/08 12:17 PM
What Scott Carl said. You also need to check and clean the connectors too.
This is exactly what long winter nights in Nebraska were made for 