Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness?

Posted By: Slant6pak

Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/09/15 06:23 AM

Hey guys,

I need to remove the connector from my dome light wiring harness so I can pull the wiring up through the A-pillar.

I seem to remember somebody made a nice set of tools specifically for pulling the terminals out of Mopar harnesses... but for the life of me can't find it now.

In additional to removing the dome light harness, I have a pile of old wiring from both of my cars I like to snag the good connectors off of for spares, custom harness additions, etc.

I found a couple kits for sale online but they are designed to take apart pretty much every design of connector ever made... and usually find that tools intended to everything don't do one specific thing very well....

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/09/15 06:31 AM

for the firewall bulkhead, the male terminals: one leg is unsupported but you cannot (easily) tell which one it is when they are installed so press each side & the one that moves, press it closer to the other leg untill the pigtail will easily pull out the back side. the female connectors, there is a mini slot on one side of the bulkhead rectangle the terminal is in & stick an eyeglass screwdriver in & flatten the tab flush with the terminal (you cant see it) & move the screwdriver in parallel as opposed to angle leveraging it and when it is flat you can easily pull the pigtail out the back. Dont force either by pulling hard, just work the terminal some more. If your connectors are the same as these then there ya go.

Posted By: NachoRT74

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/09/15 07:56 AM

usually dome light connectors going through A pillars use this plug ( not the packards 56 kind ):

so I guess you can get:

http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/2-pc-automotive-terminal-removal-tool-set/A-p8006462e

although I'm really drastic and use plat precision screw drivers for everything LOL... including those rounded ones which gets two tabs. Of course after make that, needs to get it back to shape LOL.

BUT harness can be pulled out from A pillar without need to remove the plug... diff stuff is reinstall it

Posted By: 71GTX471

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/09/15 05:11 PM

Magnifying glasses

Posted By: 1970A66

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/09/15 05:35 PM

The "best" option is to buy the proper diameter pin extractor such as this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Pin-Molex-Powe...=item4adf0844b2
(Note: I'm not saying the above is your correct extractor)

Another option is to fabricate your own using the sections from a telescoping magnetic or antenna: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Portable-Telesco...=item5d53c318a0

Use a tubing cutter, separate each section then slip the best fitting one around your pin and wiggle. It works well. You can ream/enlarge the ID as necessary for your pin diameter. Go fancy by installing a wood ball from a hobby store on the opposite end to protect your hand.

Posted By: NachoRT74

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/09/15 06:30 PM

Quote:

Magnifying glasses

LOL, sorry, was the only pic I found on the web to show the plug on this assembly LOL

coming back to topic... I posted a nice tool for that. Just that the giant pic makes the link small LOL

Posted By: Sxrxrnr

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/10/15 12:25 AM

Any idea why text in your posting,,,and that of respondents is such a small font? I see this on some postings and have not figured how or why this happens.

Old eyes want to know.

Posted By: mopar346

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/10/15 03:48 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Magnifying glasses

LOL, sorry, was the only pic I found on the web to show the plug on this assembly LOL

coming back to topic... I posted a nice tool for that. Just that the giant pic makes the link small LOL

I have a tool like this and it is awesome. I use a set of roll pin needle nose pliers for the male end at the bulkhead connector.

Posted By: kentj340

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/10/15 06:04 AM

Quote:

Any idea why text in your posting,,,and that of respondents is such a small font? I see this on some postings and have not figured how or why this happens.

Old eyes want to know.

Because the first photo is so big, the page needed to go wider. But the font stays the same on the bigger page as it is on a regular page. Then if your display shows the page at full width, the font gets squshed. That's my theory, and I'm sticking to it.

Posted By: Gavin

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/10/15 02:19 PM

If you are cheap

or short of time, you can make your own from a short length of brake pipe! I did this for my bulkhead connector terminals. Cut a length, put it in a drill chuck, and then sand or file the outside diameter until the wall thickness is thin (that's a technical term - 'thin'

).

Quick and easy. If you have a bunch to do, I'd buy the tool....

Posted By: FASTBACK340

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/10/15 04:23 PM

Quote:

If you are cheap or short of time, you can make your own from a short length of brake pipe! I did this for my bulkhead connector terminals. Cut a length, put it in a drill chuck, and then sand or file the outside diameter until the wall thickness is thin (that's a technical term - 'thin' ).

Quick and easy. If you have a bunch to do, I'd buy the tool....

Along these lines of quick, expendable, and cheap�.

I use the old metal tension-strips that come on wiper blades. Cut into short lengths and hit the edges on a grinding wheel. Thin it out (there's that technical term again�) so it fits into the terminal end your working on. I made a selection of about 1/2 dozen with a piece of bright yellow shrink wrap on the tips. If I don't see it and loose it, no big deal. Just make more from scrap. I make them long, short, I even bend the ends for leverage.

BUT�.. these only work on flat terminals. The above tip covers round pins. I guess we covered it all, no?

Posted By: 135sohc

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/10/15 06:13 PM

Nothing wrong with homemade tools. Sometimes I value my time more though.

These in various thicknesses will cover 95% of everything thats not molex or molex like.
http://www.delcity.net/store/Metri-Pack-...CFRckgQodM1IAew

Molex in different sizes also
http://www.alliedelec.com/molex-incorpor...CFUk8gQodnDIAoA

Posted By: Sxrxrnr

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/10/15 06:57 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Any idea why text in your posting,,,and that of respondents is such a small font? I see this on some postings and have not figured how or why this happens.

Old eyes want to know.

Because the first photo is so big, the page needed to go wider. But the font stays the same on the bigger page as it is on a regular page. Then if your display shows the page at full width, the font gets squshed. That's my theory, and I'm sticking to it.

Guess I won't be reading on my IPhone. Thanks for your insight.

Posted By: dobie

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/10/15 07:22 PM

Quote:

Nothing wrong with homemade tools. Sometimes I value my time more though.

These in various thicknesses will cover 95% of everything thats not molex or molex like.
http://www.delcity.net/store/Metri-Pack-...CFRckgQodM1IAew

Molex in different sizes also
http://www.alliedelec.com/molex-incorpor...CFUk8gQodnDIAoA

Interesting. Any idea the size needed for our Chrysler bulkhead connectors?

Posted By: 135sohc

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/10/15 09:09 PM

http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Terminal_Extractor_Pick_Wide_Blade_090_p/a14885.htm
I have that one and the smallest one

http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Micro_Terminal_Extractor_Pick_035_Blade_p/a20583.htm

There are more sizes I know of but cannot find them right now. AUVECO sells 3-4 different sizes. The .090 should be plenty big enough for the bulk head connector.

Posted By: dobie

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/10/15 10:10 PM

Thank you! I've fought with tiny screwdrivers enough to know that a proper tool is money well spent.

Posted By: Vert

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/10/15 11:33 PM

Quote:

...

BUT harness can be pulled out from A pillar without need to remove the plug... diff stuff is reinstall it

Smart move is to attach a messenger line to it when removing, to be used for pulling it back in.

Posted By: Slant6pak

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/11/15 03:11 AM

Quote:

Quote:

...

BUT harness can be pulled out from A pillar without need to remove the plug... diff stuff is reinstall it

Smart move is to attach a messenger line to it when removing, to be used for pulling it back in.

Yes that is....

Too bad I'm pulling it out of one car to put in another

Thank you for all the replies guys. I'll check out all of the links provided. I had already found the extractors that are round... but it looks like a great way to stab yourself in the hand with the bit you aren't using

Posted By: NachoRT74

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/12/15 05:58 AM

Quote:

Quote:

...

BUT harness can be pulled out from A pillar without need to remove the plug... diff stuff is reinstall it

Smart move is to attach a messenger line to it when removing, to be used for pulling it back in.

Yes it is, but can be used a hard wire too throught the pillar if you didn't do it

Posted By: 71rm23

Re: Best tool for removing terminals from wiring harness? - 02/14/15 10:11 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Magnifying glasses

LOL, sorry, was the only pic I found on the web to show the plug on this assembly LOL

coming back to topic... I posted a nice tool for that. Just that the giant pic makes the link small LOL

I have a tool like this and it is awesome. I use a set of roll pin needle nose pliers for the male end at the bulkhead connector.

Where can I get some of them from?