Moparts

Painless vs American Autowire universal harness

Posted By: Sport440

Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/22/10 12:13 AM

I know some hear have used the Painless harness and are happy. I have stumbled on to American Autowire,s wiring harness that seems to be a good product.


Im comparing the Painless T Bucket $299 vs the American Autowires Highway 15 $349 wiring system.

For the price the Highway 15 harness includes extras like the ign.,headlight,Dimmer,switch relays etc. that the Painless doesnt.

My problem is I dont know much about the American Autowires product quality and I have confidence in Painless products and support.

I do know that American Autowire claims to be Runner up at the 09 Semi show with thier Harness products. Any opinions and or experience with either of these products is welcomed.

Their website is www.americanautowire.com Thanks for any help mike

If you want to check the Highway 15 harness out click on the Highway series in the Modified auto paragraph 2nd one down on the front home page.
Posted By: abodyjoe

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/22/10 12:20 AM

there is a street rod shop by me that does a ton of wiring and he swears by american auto wire. says the painless quality is garbage compared to the american auto wire. there is also something about the way the painless hooks in the fuse box that he doesn't like. his first choice in harnesses is american followed by ron francis.. i'm sure if you pick his brain a little he will give ya good info.. http://www.thestreetrodstore.com/phpbb/index.php
Posted By: RestoRick

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/22/10 01:36 AM


I've rewired several street rods with American Rewire and they're very nice.
I did mine with a Ron Francis one some 20 yrs. ago and while it was a good kit, the American Rewire is better IMO.

Rick
Posted By: GTXKen

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/22/10 01:45 AM

Check Kwikwire too, out of Wisconsin
Posted By: JerseyJoe

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/22/10 03:16 AM

That looks like a nice kit for $350. I pass their place every day on my commute, but I always thought they just did GM products. I'd like to give some locals my business, is there anything about that kit that would make it difficult to use in a Mopar?
Posted By: cogen80

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/22/10 01:02 PM

Quote:

is there anything about that kit that would make it difficult to use in a Mopar?




no not really.

stop in AMERICAN AUTOWIRE. LAST TIME I WAS IN THERE THEY WERE FRIENDLY. SURE THEY WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU have, ( oops, sorry about the caps.) i think an employee posts on pro-touring.com
Posted By: Sport440

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/22/10 03:46 PM

Thanks for the info on American Auto wire. Thats some comferting info. I wish they were close by me so I could stop in myself like some of you on here can. I think thats the kit Im going to kit. Thanks, Mike
Posted By: roy2345

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/23/10 06:17 AM

Anyone tried the harness from EZ Wiring? A guy around town has been rewiring old mopars with these wiring kits.

http://www.ezwiring.com/wiring_harness.html
Posted By: JSSuperbee

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/24/10 01:46 AM

Yep! American Autowire is superior to Painless.
The reasons: Painless isn't painless. The biggest
difference is that the wires are all molded in the back of the Painless system. Therefore, you can't change or remove any of the wires or circuits. The wires come with fixed lengths that you cut at the end and attach to the system....not good! American Auto Wire begins at the system or item and you run the length back to the fuse panel and insert it at the panel. Unlike the Painless system....you only use the circuit you want/need. The American Auto Wire is a much better engineered system. If you don't want to use the circuit on the Painless system you must either cut the wire off of the back of the panel (therefore you'll never be able to use it in the future) or coil the wires up and zip tie them in the back which causes a lump of wire hanging out of the back of the panel.
Posted By: 36PLYM

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/24/10 01:57 AM

I used the EZ kit on my 36. No complaints!
Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/24/10 02:26 AM

Quote:

The reasons: Painless isn't painless.


Posted By: GTXKen

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/24/10 04:12 AM

Check these guys out

http://www.kwikwire.com/wh_14CircuitStreetrodwiring.html
Posted By: Sport440

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/24/10 06:00 AM

GTX, I did a quick check on them as you suggested and my first thoughts were that they had bettter pricing.

But thier kits didnt include the extra 3 switches, compared to the American Autowire. Ignition, headlight and dimmer.

As far as Quality differences???, Dont know?? Besides the better price what do feel the better value is?. mike
Posted By: 79powerwagon

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/24/10 09:16 AM

I've bought two Kwik Wire systems, and really liked the company and the quality. It helps that they're about a 1/2 hour away from me if I had any questions!
Posted By: Skeptic

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/25/10 03:42 PM

Quote:

Anyone tried the harness from EZ Wiring? A guy around town has been rewiring old mopars with these wiring kits.

http://www.ezwiring.com/wiring_harness.html


I'm putting one in my Barracuda. Everything looks top notch. I doesn't have the sub harness for the wiper motor and the kit I have is setup for a GM.
Posted By: elitecustombody

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/25/10 03:48 PM

alot of GM guys raving about AAW,

http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64690
Posted By: JSSuperbee

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/26/10 12:48 AM

REMEMBER......American Auto Wire is set up for GM
vehicles only. Switches break the ground not the positive like on Fords.
Posted By: Sport440

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/26/10 01:39 AM

Thanks for sharing that site. I agree it seems people love AAW. mike
Posted By: Sport440

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/26/10 01:49 AM

Quote:

REMEMBER......American Auto Wire is set up for GM
vehicles only. Switches break the ground not the positive like on Fords.




Im not sure I follow you on this a 100% I know you can kill a circuit by either cutting its ground or positive feed.

The vehicle Im working on is completely stripped of everything. Picture wiring a kitchen table.

The universal Highway 15 appears to me to be fed by a *8 gauge positive, then the circuits are fused and the power is sent out to the switches. What am I missing. mike
Posted By: JSSuperbee

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/27/10 01:07 AM

Quote:

I know you can kill a circuit by either cutting its ground or positive feed.





Right..the universal AAW cuts the ground. It's a GM setup. I don't know what MOPAR breaks....the ground or the positive. You won't be able to use switches that cut the positive with this harness.
I recommend calling AAW and tell them you are wiring a MOPAR. If MOPAR breaks the positive like Ford does you can't use any of the switches that break the positive like interior lights....door jamb switches. The switches that come with the universal kit are for a street rod set up.
Posted By: dirt

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/27/10 04:14 AM

i have only used ron francis, painless and easy wiring. i liked ron fransis best. i didnt end up with all the extra wires to trim off at the box. never tried the american autowire
Posted By: JSSuperbee

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/28/10 01:54 AM

Actually.....engineering-wise Ron Francis is probably the best system out there. However, AAW is a very close second. I've worked with both products.
Posted By: broncobra

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/28/10 02:21 AM

ISIS multiplex dot.com Welcome to the new world. Less wire, self diagnosing, less hassle. Easier to wire. Leaves old systems in the dust, where they belong. Not very much more price wise, but a WHOLE bunch more every where else.
Posted By: JerseyJoe

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/28/10 03:51 AM

Is this what you mean?
ISIS "power" .com?
Posted By: cogen80

Re: Painless vs American Autowire universal harness - 02/28/10 12:49 PM

Quote:

ISIS multiplex dot.com Welcome to the new world. Less wire, self diagnosing, less hassle. Easier to wire. Leaves old systems in the dust, where they belong. Not very much more price wise, but a WHOLE bunch more every where else.





not much more price wise? looks like double the price to me. and i haven't seen any real world feedback on their stuff yet. yes its cool but i want to see how they stand behind their product when people have a problem with it. seriously how difficult is it to find a problem in an american auto wire kit? i mean you installed it so you know where everything is. right? the isis kits are neat and all but do ya really need all that? i can see if your doing power windows, want to slowly dim int lights, time delay in your headlights and things like that but its over kill for a lot of us in my opinion. it has its place for sure but its not everyones cup of tea.



http://www.isispower.com/products.html

http://www.americanautowire.com/highway.html
© 2024 Moparts Forums