Joe's badass radio harness repair

[Oteck]

Don't you love it when ghetto/hack installer decides to cut off your entire harness plug? I went through hell putting this back together. I should note anyone caught using wire taps and bloated insulation crimps should be punched in the face

what a %$^@%^# some people shouldn't be working on cars


I have a premium audio so im wiring the 15pin one, i took it apart so i can get proper spacing and length. This can be bought from ebay along with the radio adapter harness side


Here the leads are wire stripped and later on added solder to get it to mate on the pins (terminals).


Leads are now held on by the crimp so i can firmly solder on the recycled pin's. I could have just soldered the wires that was included with the plug bug when it comes to wiring I'm total badass.


My wiring aid holding the pin so i can solder it together


I place them on the plug one at a time so i know which one has been re-worked


And now the final stage of taping it all up.


Here is the other side of the harness with an adapter

[Oteck]

nothing more unprofessional than seeing these uglies from sloppy/lazy alarm, turbo timmer or any wiring installs; real pro's use the solder gun

[dh4ever]

the lighting for my boost gauge comes off the typical cig lighter power

also hacked wiring plug for my deck, but i was only looking for the 4 wires, acc, power, ground and power antenna, with external amps and such taking the rest of it,

[Oteck]

make sure you don't ask me to do your wirings lol. Just now i had to fix one of repetes wires as they decided to come appart while i was replacing his clutch master. These crimps just aren't reliable

[dh4ever]

but why not?! haha no problem, I am very capable of repairing wiring. I do own a jeep afterall. those hack jobs? still better than an AMC jeeps wiring from the factory.

[alishawkat]

Is there any other way to install a aftermarket GPS/Radio other then getting the adapter? Like can I upgrade my amp or something? or is the easiest solution the adapter?

Thank you

[immorality]

You can hardwire it, but then you can't take it out. You could also make your own adapter if you have a couple of spare plugs, but an adapter is by far the easiest way.

[Oteck]

just buy the harness, they are everywhere in ebay and aren't that expensive seriously

[PearlWhiteMR2]

Fyi, real pros don't always solder. I've seen the techs at work use crimps that are heat shrinkable. There is nothing wrong with it as long as you take care with it. I prefer to solder myself, but don't need to call people who prefer different, quicker methods "hacks".

[dh4ever]

I would still cause it a hack, because I have had crimp shrinks fail before, I lost my fuel pump power at the worst possible minute. I have NEVER had a proper solder/shrink wrap (outside the cab I use doublewall) fail.

[Goopi]

It is not only up to which method you use, but it really depends on who is doing the work. I've seen really bad solders and on the other end I have seen good crimps.

[macatak]

you also need the right crimp tool with the correct die for the type of terminal you are crimping
ie:
http://www.techspan.ca/index.aspx?Command=ShowPDF&url=http://www.techspan.ca/ProductPDFs/W%20E-4.pdf

[sprinterkb]

you also need the right crimp tool with the correct die for the type of terminal you are crimping
ie:
http://www.techspan.ca/index.aspx?Command=ShowPDF&url=http://www.techspan.ca/ProductPDFs/W%20E-4.pdf

I agree with Duncan.
A proper Crimp connector done with a quality tool that will not overcrimp will alway be the best and last the longest.
Soldering is sometimes bad as the joint will usually fail just outside the solder as the copper has been over heated.
Solder joints must be protected from flexing or they will fail..

When did you ever see a solder connection in a Toyota factory harness? Never. but you will see lots of crimps at connectors and splice points.
Kevin

[PearlWhiteMR2]

Thank you Kevin, it's true. I see the techs doing this all the time and they have rarely had them come back and fail. You just have to know your stuff.

[ZerA]

Knowing your stuff or not, crimps and tabs are still considered a hack. Under a government DUI program, I install Ignition Interlocks into vehicles. They DEMAND you use solder and NO crimps or tabs. If audited and caught, the company gets fined. They state in the contract crimps and tabs as "hack methods".

I just find it funny how people are offended by the word 'hack'. Too me, hack is just a less pretty way of doing something. If it works for you, then greaaaaaat.

I use crimps and solder depending on the job. Choose the right tools for the job. It seriously doesn't matter if you solder or crimp. Lets stop comparing which is better.