More engine harness repairs - need tips and hints

[edwinn]

More damaged harness sheathing

The engine harness was repaired within the last month after a mouse apparently chewed injector #3 wires and others. There's another `wire problem´ area in the forward area of the engine compartment above the bell housing. A coolant sensor connection has TOASTED split loom covering that I cannot ignore. Plus it will really spiff-up the main harness in front after I re-tape it up and over the plenum intake.

Here's the general view with injector #5, the previous repairs and the TOASTED temp sensor wires and shields.




The 3/8" split loom (actually 1/4") is toast and breaks when touched. There's a 7/8" ID loom, 2" long over the coolant sensor? That's also TOAST and cracked in multiple places. It's a HOT are in there!!

Another view from the side. That whole pigtail has to be re-wrapped with new tubing.. plus a new sensor cover.




Auto Parts Store

Last time at the parts store, I described to the guy how the `cover´ over the sensor had grey dust tape wrapped around it, and he said you can't do that because the engine could catch on fire. Well what does it look like to you?




Both of these pieces of tubing are brittle as hell after 15 years. Only tape is holding them from falling apart!!




How to make it serviceable?

The wires are too short to simply SLIDE that heat-shielded cover down the wires. It would have to be slipped on and duct-taped after connecting it, yes? Not a problem?

Here's the bare sensor..




On bench to measure size

The pieces of loom are on the bench to measure size. I'll take these in to to see what Parts has in stock for sheathing. Will probably have to buy an 8' or 12' roll, but at least will have some on hand.




Comments or suggestions are welcome.


Gotta love that American ride!!




-Ed


"Armaments, universal debt and planned obsolescence, those are the three pillars of Western prosperity." -Aldous Huxley

[Tech II]

The covering over the plastic loom was a heat resistant tape.....anyone who did the Fiero recalls has tons of the stuff left over in their tool boxes.....

Not just Riv's, but in LeSabre's, PA's, etc., the plastic looms become brittle over time....and yes the mice love the the wiring to the injectors, purge solenoid, and sometimes even the ignition wires....they build their nest under the plastic engine cover....part of an oil change in our shop was to remove the cover and look for a nest....

We had one guy come in with a misfire on a Bonneville....lived in the country...parked his car in his garage......

When I removed the plastic cover, they ate the insulation off, all the injector wiring....the purge solenoid wiring.....the ignition wires......I pulled the PCM which was located in the air box.....in the air box, it was filled with dry dog food.....the air filter was eaten.....when I pulled the PCM, there was a nest at the harness and covering to the harness insulation was eaten.....

Was a lengthy and costly repair.....the guy asked what could he do?

Some people use moth balls, but the smell is a problem.....some use fabric softener sheets....but I have seen mice make nests out of them.....I told him his only recourse, was to get rid of his mouse problem in the garage......he left......one month later he was back with a misfire, but they only ate his ignition wires.......they did start another nest in his PCM.....he got an exterminator......

[edwinn]

Originally Posted by Tech II

The covering over the plastic loom was a heat resistant tape.....anyone who did the Fiero recalls has tons of the stuff left over in their tool boxes. Not just Riv's, but in LeSabre's, PA's, etc., the plastic looms become brittle over time.

I've shopped around and found a 3M product: Foil Tape 3111. It was only about 8 bucks for a 2" x 30' roll, but it's only a few mills thick, and after searching on the web.. turns out its temperature rating is only 180°F. Here's a link to 3M foil tape products: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3M-SpecialtyTapes/SpcltyTape/ProdInfo/Catalog/Metal-Foils/

Suppose I'll try out the 3311 stuff since it's shelf life is short (~1 year.) Also bought a one foot length of 1" Dia split loom (really needed 7/8") and a whole package of 3/8" Dia. Good to have around. It looks and feels kinda' cheap and flimsy though!! But now I can fix-up and shield wires all over the vehicle at any time!!

When I mentioned 3M Super 88 black vinyl tape for harness wrapping to the guy at Delcoline (a hot-rodder) he said "that's the stuff" to use!!


-Ed

[edwinn]

This task is a wrap (huh?)


Before:

The engine harness update is about finished!! The old electrical tape was CRISP is places but held up well after 15+ years. Here are some BEFORE photos. There's a disjoint (gap) in the large tubing on top. Also the tubing directly to the right of that section is too small in Dia.




Removing crisp tape and tubing..





Digging into the bundle

Harness opened up. There are some things to point out:

1. Solenoid pigtail needs to be re-routed
2. There's a splice inside the harness
3. Split loom is too small in diameter here

Complete

The vacuum solenoid breakout (lower left) has been re-routed and comes out the TOP of the tubing between two sections of loom. I think this is a violation of the standard.. where breakouts should be at the bottom of the tubing. It should be ok? yes?




A section of 1" Dia loom is added over top of the discontinuous tubing.




Detail of new pigtails, separated into TWO bundles.




New temp sensor heat shield. This was the whole point of the repair.. make that Harness Update.




The 1" piece was wrapped and slid onto the pigtail before mating the connector, then it was carefully "slid around the bend" until over the sensor. Yep that can deform it so care must be taken. The 1" tubing is actually too big, but it should be ok.


In closing

Fun project.. but ooh my achin' back. The hood compartment is low to the floor, even with new and stiffer front springs!! A lot of time was spent bending over the engine. How do you guys deal with that?

Ya' sure you don't want no more photos?

-Ed