A guide to having a proper automotive wire harness

 

Everybody loves an eye-catching car exterior. After all, it’s what we notice when we see a car. While the coilover shocks and shiny rims are great, one thing that cannot be overlooked is a car’s wiring system. If your car’s wiring harness is not functioning at full potential, then you are not getting the best that your car has to offer.

While ensuring that your vehicle is properly wired can seem like a daunting task, the truth is that you don’t need to be intimidated. As long as you are patient and pay attention to detail, you are capable of doing a great job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some tips that will help make the job less scary: Have a proper wiring plan

Before you commence with the project, make sure that you have a plan for every course of action that you intend to take. This means laying out the wiring harness so that you know where each wire is supposed to go. At the same time, have an idea of how much wire is required to complete the job. You may also want to label each wiring harness to make it easy to channel every component correctly.

 

Assemble all the tools needed for the job

Having the right tools makes the job much easier. You don’t want to start the job, only to discover that you are missing a wire crimper, soldering iron or wire strippers. Other items that you need include an ohm meter and a wire brush. To test if there is power flowing in a circuit you will need a test light. Your connections will also need to be protected from outside elements which makes it imperative that you have a shrink tubing.

 

Survey your wiring needs

A factory automotive wire harness will include enough wiring for the proper functioning of the standard electrical components of the car. These include horn, headlights, windshield wipers. However, if you want to add extra components like racing electronics or a high-end audio, you need to know the proper wires to use. The different wires will differ in terms of size color and material.

Know how many circuits you need

Before you lay out any wire, make a diagram of the installation showing every circuit and where each will be routed. When you have a diagram, it gives you much more leeway to make any changes on the diagram rather than having to physically reroute wires if you make any error.

Know the right overload protection

It’s not just about installing a wire harness for your vehicle. You also need to protect all the expensive electronics in the vehicle. When it comes to overload protection, you have a choice between fuses, circuit breakers and fusible links.

 

Bottom line

The importance of proper automotive wire harness cannot be underscored. Every single wire in the overall harness carries energy that is needed for the vehicle’s engine, meters, lights, a navigation system, windows, power doors and other important devices. This is why you need to dedicate as much time and energy as possible to ensure that the wiring harness of your vehicle is proper to avoid unnecessary breakdowns.