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How to Get a Replacement Wiring Harness

No matter if you're working on a classic car or you're everyday get-around, choosing a wiring harness comes with questions if you've never done it before. While it may seem overwhelming, the good news is it isn't challenging learning how to get a replacement wiring harness. Here are some tips.

What's the Purpose of a Wiring Harness?

All of your vehicle's electrical devices and components have connections to the main power source through a collection of wires referred to as a wiring harness. Under most circumstances, wiring harnesses include a fuse block, as well as between eight and twelve circuits. If a vehicle has a lot of luxury items, there will be more circuit harnesses.

How to Choose the Right Replacement Kit

There are three primary replacement wiring harness kits from which you can choose. The first one attaches directly to the vehicle's fuse panel, thus allowing the wires to route to terminal points and maintain connection because the wires are cut to length. The second also has wires cut to length and will run from loads that connect directly to the fuse panel. The third is where you use exact factory replacements that have terminations on each end, but may need plug installations.

Look at the Harness Quality

Once you determine which of the three you would like to go with, it's critical you look at the quality of the wiring harness. One of the most significant questions during this step is, "it's a bunch of wires, how do I do that?" Great question! You're going to be looking at the way the connections are made. For example, manufacturers will use either crimping or a combination of crimping and soldering to attach fuse blocks or wiring and connectors. If you see crimping without soldering, then you're not going to have as much electricity conducting through the harness. That means it's a lower quality unit because it's creating more resistance and losing voltage.

Pick the Type of Kit

Should you choose a modular or integrated kit? That's another question many do-it-yourself mechanics have. Most prefer modular units because they're easier to install. The main reason is that you don't have to deal with a fuse panel having wires pre-connections and all the wiring to the power circuits occurs into the fuse panel from the outside. If there are unused circuits, there are no connections and the panel replacement isn't restricted.

Make Sure the Harness is Expandable

What does it mean to have a replacement wiring harness that's expandable? That's another great question! What this means is that, even if you don't plan on doing so in the immediate future, you have the option of adding more circuits later. If the harness is considered expandable, it must be able to accommodate more amperage than the number of circuits it's currently supporting. You can determine if it's expandable by looking at the gauge of the wiring. Is it heavier than what's being currently supported? If so, then it will likely accommodate additional amperage. Another good thing to look for is what manufacturers refer to as oversize wiring. These wires help ensure the harness performs as expected no matter the situation, even in hot temperatures, and ensures each circuit experiences a minimal voltage drop.

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