Randall Brink

Mike:

This is precisely the type of advice I was hoping for. I knew it was going
to be much more than replacing a few wires.

I have a complete harness, which arrived a couple days ago, and when I
opened the box, what I found looked like an Eagle's nest made of wire.

Nevertheless, this is a great, clean, solid Jeep and I will do whatever it
takes to restore it, even if I have to resort to taking the project to a
shop. The problem there is finding a good Jeep shop in this part of the
country (North Idaho).

Many thanks for the help.

Sincerely,

--
Randall Brink
Author
randallbrink@adelphia.net
1970 VW Type 1
1975 Mercedes-Benz W115 240D
"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:435663BF.59E52957@sympatico.ca...
> Well, you are right about the nightmare.....
>
> I have repaired a lot of burned harnesses over the years and in the case
> of dashes figure a replacement harness is usually the way to go.
>
> There are companies like painless wiring for one that make kits for the
> various vehicles. Maybe you could just buy the dash kit or maybe a
> wrecker has one? The harness comes apart in modules at the fuse panel.
> You need to unbolt the center back bolt on the panel's back and it comes
> apart into a dash harness, an engine harness, a front clip harness and a
> body harness.
>
> Using a good wiring schematic, you might be able to replace the wires
> one at a time, but heat has a tendency to change the wire colors which
> can mess you up. The short that started the mess is also it's own issue
> because those wires will melt internally so you think a length of
> harness looks ok, but inside the wire harness wires have gone through
> and are crossed with something else. On Jeeps, the orange wires are
> nasty for doing this. A melt can happen on the exhaust or choke that
> can fry the dash harness...
>
> It takes a lot of patience, good luck.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Randall Brink wrote:
>>
>> Reposting this, in the hope of a reply...
>>
>> My GW caught fire behind the instrument panel and burned some wiring and
>> destroyed the heater control box and panel. All instruments are out,
>> except
>> the ammeter.
>>
>> Has anyone experienced this, and/or, does anyone have any advice on the
>> repair. I have located the instrument panel facia and the heater control
>> box, but have not yet opened up the panel to look at what I assume will
>> be
>> the nightmare inside.
>>
>> Jeep starts and runs fine. A/C and AC fan out, too.
>>
>> I am starting into the project today, and am hopeful of any and all
>> advice,
>> comments, experiences, etc. with the area behind the panel.
>> --
>> Randall Brink
>> Author
>> randallbrink@adelphia.net
>> 1970 VW Type 1
>> 1975 Mercedes-Benz W115 240D

Randall Brink

Mike:

This is precisely the type of advice I was hoping for. I knew it was going
to be much more than replacing a few wires.

I have a complete harness, which arrived a couple days ago, and when I
opened the box, what I found looked like an Eagle's nest made of wire.

Nevertheless, this is a great, clean, solid Jeep and I will do whatever it
takes to restore it, even if I have to resort to taking the project to a
shop. The problem there is finding a good Jeep shop in this part of the
country (North Idaho).

Many thanks for the help.

Sincerely,

--
Randall Brink
Author
randallbrink@adelphia.net
1970 VW Type 1
1975 Mercedes-Benz W115 240D
"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:435663BF.59E52957@sympatico.ca...
> Well, you are right about the nightmare.....
>
> I have repaired a lot of burned harnesses over the years and in the case
> of dashes figure a replacement harness is usually the way to go.
>
> There are companies like painless wiring for one that make kits for the
> various vehicles. Maybe you could just buy the dash kit or maybe a
> wrecker has one? The harness comes apart in modules at the fuse panel.
> You need to unbolt the center back bolt on the panel's back and it comes
> apart into a dash harness, an engine harness, a front clip harness and a
> body harness.
>
> Using a good wiring schematic, you might be able to replace the wires
> one at a time, but heat has a tendency to change the wire colors which
> can mess you up. The short that started the mess is also it's own issue
> because those wires will melt internally so you think a length of
> harness looks ok, but inside the wire harness wires have gone through
> and are crossed with something else. On Jeeps, the orange wires are
> nasty for doing this. A melt can happen on the exhaust or choke that
> can fry the dash harness...
>
> It takes a lot of patience, good luck.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Randall Brink wrote:
>>
>> Reposting this, in the hope of a reply...
>>
>> My GW caught fire behind the instrument panel and burned some wiring and
>> destroyed the heater control box and panel. All instruments are out,
>> except
>> the ammeter.
>>
>> Has anyone experienced this, and/or, does anyone have any advice on the
>> repair. I have located the instrument panel facia and the heater control
>> box, but have not yet opened up the panel to look at what I assume will
>> be
>> the nightmare inside.
>>
>> Jeep starts and runs fine. A/C and AC fan out, too.
>>
>> I am starting into the project today, and am hopeful of any and all
>> advice,
>> comments, experiences, etc. with the area behind the panel.
>> --
>> Randall Brink
>> Author
>> randallbrink@adelphia.net
>> 1970 VW Type 1
>> 1975 Mercedes-Benz W115 240D

Randall Brink

Mike:

This is precisely the type of advice I was hoping for. I knew it was going
to be much more than replacing a few wires.

I have a complete harness, which arrived a couple days ago, and when I
opened the box, what I found looked like an Eagle's nest made of wire.

Nevertheless, this is a great, clean, solid Jeep and I will do whatever it
takes to restore it, even if I have to resort to taking the project to a
shop. The problem there is finding a good Jeep shop in this part of the
country (North Idaho).

Many thanks for the help.

Sincerely,

--
Randall Brink
Author
randallbrink@adelphia.net
1970 VW Type 1
1975 Mercedes-Benz W115 240D
"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:435663BF.59E52957@sympatico.ca...
> Well, you are right about the nightmare.....
>
> I have repaired a lot of burned harnesses over the years and in the case
> of dashes figure a replacement harness is usually the way to go.
>
> There are companies like painless wiring for one that make kits for the
> various vehicles. Maybe you could just buy the dash kit or maybe a
> wrecker has one? The harness comes apart in modules at the fuse panel.
> You need to unbolt the center back bolt on the panel's back and it comes
> apart into a dash harness, an engine harness, a front clip harness and a
> body harness.
>
> Using a good wiring schematic, you might be able to replace the wires
> one at a time, but heat has a tendency to change the wire colors which
> can mess you up. The short that started the mess is also it's own issue
> because those wires will melt internally so you think a length of
> harness looks ok, but inside the wire harness wires have gone through
> and are crossed with something else. On Jeeps, the orange wires are
> nasty for doing this. A melt can happen on the exhaust or choke that
> can fry the dash harness...
>
> It takes a lot of patience, good luck.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Randall Brink wrote:
>>
>> Reposting this, in the hope of a reply...
>>
>> My GW caught fire behind the instrument panel and burned some wiring and
>> destroyed the heater control box and panel. All instruments are out,
>> except
>> the ammeter.
>>
>> Has anyone experienced this, and/or, does anyone have any advice on the
>> repair. I have located the instrument panel facia and the heater control
>> box, but have not yet opened up the panel to look at what I assume will
>> be
>> the nightmare inside.
>>
>> Jeep starts and runs fine. A/C and AC fan out, too.
>>
>> I am starting into the project today, and am hopeful of any and all
>> advice,
>> comments, experiences, etc. with the area behind the panel.
>> --
>> Randall Brink
>> Author
>> randallbrink@adelphia.net
>> 1970 VW Type 1
>> 1975 Mercedes-Benz W115 240D

Mike Romain

Depending on the harness you got, there are a couple ways to install
it. If it was labeled then you can tear out all the old stuff and go
for it.

If it isn't labeled, then I prefer to either lay the new one beside the
old one which can be interesting for tangles or I cut the old one at
each plug leaving an inch or two of the old wire hanging there for a
color and gauge matchup. I then just swap the plugs as I install.
Depending on the condition of the 'new' harness' plugs, sometimes I just
leave the old plug in place and solder and heat shrink the wires onto it
for the better conditioned plug.

Mike

Randall Brink wrote:
>
> Mike:
>
> This is precisely the type of advice I was hoping for. I knew it was going
> to be much more than replacing a few wires.
>
> I have a complete harness, which arrived a couple days ago, and when I
> opened the box, what I found looked like an Eagle's nest made of wire.
>
> Nevertheless, this is a great, clean, solid Jeep and I will do whatever it
> takes to restore it, even if I have to resort to taking the project to a
> shop. The problem there is finding a good Jeep shop in this part of the
> country (North Idaho).
>
> Many thanks for the help.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> --
> Randall Brink
> Author
> randallbrink@adelphia.net
> 1970 VW Type 1
> 1975 Mercedes-Benz W115 240D
> "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:435663BF.59E52957@sympatico.ca...
> > Well, you are right about the nightmare.....
> >
> > I have repaired a lot of burned harnesses over the years and in the case
> > of dashes figure a replacement harness is usually the way to go.
> >
> > There are companies like painless wiring for one that make kits for the
> > various vehicles. Maybe you could just buy the dash kit or maybe a
> > wrecker has one? The harness comes apart in modules at the fuse panel.
> > You need to unbolt the center back bolt on the panel's back and it comes
> > apart into a dash harness, an engine harness, a front clip harness and a
> > body harness.
> >
> > Using a good wiring schematic, you might be able to replace the wires
> > one at a time, but heat has a tendency to change the wire colors which
> > can mess you up. The short that started the mess is also it's own issue
> > because those wires will melt internally so you think a length of
> > harness looks ok, but inside the wire harness wires have gone through
> > and are crossed with something else. On Jeeps, the orange wires are
> > nasty for doing this. A melt can happen on the exhaust or choke that
> > can fry the dash harness...
> >
> > It takes a lot of patience, good luck.
> >
> > Mike
> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> >
> > Randall Brink wrote:
> >>
> >> Reposting this, in the hope of a reply...
> >>
> >> My GW caught fire behind the instrument panel and burned some wiring and
> >> destroyed the heater control box and panel. All instruments are out,
> >> except
> >> the ammeter.
> >>
> >> Has anyone experienced this, and/or, does anyone have any advice on the
> >> repair. I have located the instrument panel facia and the heater control
> >> box, but have not yet opened up the panel to look at what I assume will
> >> be
> >> the nightmare inside.
> >>
> >> Jeep starts and runs fine. A/C and AC fan out, too.
> >>
> >> I am starting into the project today, and am hopeful of any and all
> >> advice,
> >> comments, experiences, etc. with the area behind the panel.
> >> --
> >> Randall Brink
> >> Author
> >> randallbrink@adelphia.net
> >> 1970 VW Type 1
> >> 1975 Mercedes-Benz W115 240D

Mike Romain

Depending on the harness you got, there are a couple ways to install
it. If it was labeled then you can tear out all the old stuff and go
for it.

If it isn't labeled, then I prefer to either lay the new one beside the
old one which can be interesting for tangles or I cut the old one at
each plug leaving an inch or two of the old wire hanging there for a
color and gauge matchup. I then just swap the plugs as I install.
Depending on the condition of the 'new' harness' plugs, sometimes I just
leave the old plug in place and solder and heat shrink the wires onto it
for the better conditioned plug.

Mike

Randall Brink wrote:
>
> Mike:
>
> This is precisely the type of advice I was hoping for. I knew it was going
> to be much more than replacing a few wires.
>
> I have a complete harness, which arrived a couple days ago, and when I
> opened the box, what I found looked like an Eagle's nest made of wire.
>
> Nevertheless, this is a great, clean, solid Jeep and I will do whatever it
> takes to restore it, even if I have to resort to taking the project to a
> shop. The problem there is finding a good Jeep shop in this part of the
> country (North Idaho).
>
> Many thanks for the help.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> --
> Randall Brink
> Author
> randallbrink@adelphia.net
> 1970 VW Type 1
> 1975 Mercedes-Benz W115 240D
> "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:435663BF.59E52957@sympatico.ca...
> > Well, you are right about the nightmare.....
> >
> > I have repaired a lot of burned harnesses over the years and in the case
> > of dashes figure a replacement harness is usually the way to go.
> >
> > There are companies like painless wiring for one that make kits for the
> > various vehicles. Maybe you could just buy the dash kit or maybe a
> > wrecker has one? The harness comes apart in modules at the fuse panel.
> > You need to unbolt the center back bolt on the panel's back and it comes
> > apart into a dash harness, an engine harness, a front clip harness and a
> > body harness.
> >
> > Using a good wiring schematic, you might be able to replace the wires
> > one at a time, but heat has a tendency to change the wire colors which
> > can mess you up. The short that started the mess is also it's own issue
> > because those wires will melt internally so you think a length of
> > harness looks ok, but inside the wire harness wires have gone through
> > and are crossed with something else. On Jeeps, the orange wires are
> > nasty for doing this. A melt can happen on the exhaust or choke that
> > can fry the dash harness...
> >
> > It takes a lot of patience, good luck.
> >
> > Mike
> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> >
> > Randall Brink wrote:
> >>
> >> Reposting this, in the hope of a reply...
> >>
> >> My GW caught fire behind the instrument panel and burned some wiring and
> >> destroyed the heater control box and panel. All instruments are out,
> >> except
> >> the ammeter.
> >>
> >> Has anyone experienced this, and/or, does anyone have any advice on the
> >> repair. I have located the instrument panel facia and the heater control
> >> box, but have not yet opened up the panel to look at what I assume will
> >> be
> >> the nightmare inside.
> >>
> >> Jeep starts and runs fine. A/C and AC fan out, too.
> >>
> >> I am starting into the project today, and am hopeful of any and all
> >> advice,
> >> comments, experiences, etc. with the area behind the panel.
> >> --
> >> Randall Brink
> >> Author
> >> randallbrink@adelphia.net
> >> 1970 VW Type 1
> >> 1975 Mercedes-Benz W115 240D

Mike Romain

Depending on the harness you got, there are a couple ways to install
it. If it was labeled then you can tear out all the old stuff and go
for it.

If it isn't labeled, then I prefer to either lay the new one beside the
old one which can be interesting for tangles or I cut the old one at
each plug leaving an inch or two of the old wire hanging there for a
color and gauge matchup. I then just swap the plugs as I install.
Depending on the condition of the 'new' harness' plugs, sometimes I just
leave the old plug in place and solder and heat shrink the wires onto it
for the better conditioned plug.

Mike

Randall Brink wrote:
>
> Mike:
>
> This is precisely the type of advice I was hoping for. I knew it was going
> to be much more than replacing a few wires.
>
> I have a complete harness, which arrived a couple days ago, and when I
> opened the box, what I found looked like an Eagle's nest made of wire.
>
> Nevertheless, this is a great, clean, solid Jeep and I will do whatever it
> takes to restore it, even if I have to resort to taking the project to a
> shop. The problem there is finding a good Jeep shop in this part of the
> country (North Idaho).
>
> Many thanks for the help.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> --
> Randall Brink
> Author
> randallbrink@adelphia.net
> 1970 VW Type 1
> 1975 Mercedes-Benz W115 240D
> "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:435663BF.59E52957@sympatico.ca...
> > Well, you are right about the nightmare.....
> >
> > I have repaired a lot of burned harnesses over the years and in the case
> > of dashes figure a replacement harness is usually the way to go.
> >
> > There are companies like painless wiring for one that make kits for the
> > various vehicles. Maybe you could just buy the dash kit or maybe a
> > wrecker has one? The harness comes apart in modules at the fuse panel.
> > You need to unbolt the center back bolt on the panel's back and it comes
> > apart into a dash harness, an engine harness, a front clip harness and a
> > body harness.
> >
> > Using a good wiring schematic, you might be able to replace the wires
> > one at a time, but heat has a tendency to change the wire colors which
> > can mess you up. The short that started the mess is also it's own issue
> > because those wires will melt internally so you think a length of
> > harness looks ok, but inside the wire harness wires have gone through
> > and are crossed with something else. On Jeeps, the orange wires are
> > nasty for doing this. A melt can happen on the exhaust or choke that
> > can fry the dash harness...
> >
> > It takes a lot of patience, good luck.
> >
> > Mike
> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> >
> > Randall Brink wrote:
> >>
> >> Reposting this, in the hope of a reply...
> >>
> >> My GW caught fire behind the instrument panel and burned some wiring and
> >> destroyed the heater control box and panel. All instruments are out,
> >> except
> >> the ammeter.
> >>
> >> Has anyone experienced this, and/or, does anyone have any advice on the
> >> repair. I have located the instrument panel facia and the heater control
> >> box, but have not yet opened up the panel to look at what I assume will
> >> be
> >> the nightmare inside.
> >>
> >> Jeep starts and runs fine. A/C and AC fan out, too.
> >>
> >> I am starting into the project today, and am hopeful of any and all
> >> advice,
> >> comments, experiences, etc. with the area behind the panel.
> >> --
> >> Randall Brink
> >> Author
> >> randallbrink@adelphia.net
> >> 1970 VW Type 1
> >> 1975 Mercedes-Benz W115 240D

wkearney99

> Depending on the harness you got, there are a couple ways to install
> it. If it was labeled then you can tear out all the old stuff and go
> for it.

Do yourself a favor and get a bulk supply of zip ties. Securely reattaching
the wires helps prevent a round of new electrical problems several years
from now after the wires have bounced around, wore out or worked loose.
Also remember not all connectors have a place to connect. Quite often a
harness has applicabilty across several models and years. Some may have
more connections than you have equipment for.

It also helps to take copious notes on what connected to where and if the
colors were different on both sides of the connector. I've had plenty of
situations over the years where the plug had wires of one set of colors on
the plug but another set on the socket. Never had to do much Jeep wiring so
I don't know if that's a likely problem or not. But if you've got an
in-line connector (not going direct into a socket on something) it really
helps to make note of the colors. Assuming, of course, that the
replacement harness follows factory colors, that is.

I've generally found a vehicle that's caught fire is not one worth keeping.
Fuel fires being least problematic but electrical ones the worst. If there
was something 'wrong enough' about the wiring that the designed system
couldn't handle via fuses I'm never confident it's going to get solved
without truly pinning down the problem. So if you're not absolutely sure
where the problems are you'll probably regret trying to keep it. But hey,
give it a shot!

-Bill Kearney

wkearney99

> Depending on the harness you got, there are a couple ways to install
> it. If it was labeled then you can tear out all the old stuff and go
> for it.

Do yourself a favor and get a bulk supply of zip ties. Securely reattaching
the wires helps prevent a round of new electrical problems several years
from now after the wires have bounced around, wore out or worked loose.
Also remember not all connectors have a place to connect. Quite often a
harness has applicabilty across several models and years. Some may have
more connections than you have equipment for.

It also helps to take copious notes on what connected to where and if the
colors were different on both sides of the connector. I've had plenty of
situations over the years where the plug had wires of one set of colors on
the plug but another set on the socket. Never had to do much Jeep wiring so
I don't know if that's a likely problem or not. But if you've got an
in-line connector (not going direct into a socket on something) it really
helps to make note of the colors. Assuming, of course, that the
replacement harness follows factory colors, that is.

I've generally found a vehicle that's caught fire is not one worth keeping.
Fuel fires being least problematic but electrical ones the worst. If there
was something 'wrong enough' about the wiring that the designed system
couldn't handle via fuses I'm never confident it's going to get solved
without truly pinning down the problem. So if you're not absolutely sure
where the problems are you'll probably regret trying to keep it. But hey,
give it a shot!

-Bill Kearney

wkearney99

> Depending on the harness you got, there are a couple ways to install
> it. If it was labeled then you can tear out all the old stuff and go
> for it.

Do yourself a favor and get a bulk supply of zip ties. Securely reattaching
the wires helps prevent a round of new electrical problems several years
from now after the wires have bounced around, wore out or worked loose.
Also remember not all connectors have a place to connect. Quite often a
harness has applicabilty across several models and years. Some may have
more connections than you have equipment for.

It also helps to take copious notes on what connected to where and if the
colors were different on both sides of the connector. I've had plenty of
situations over the years where the plug had wires of one set of colors on
the plug but another set on the socket. Never had to do much Jeep wiring so
I don't know if that's a likely problem or not. But if you've got an
in-line connector (not going direct into a socket on something) it really
helps to make note of the colors. Assuming, of course, that the
replacement harness follows factory colors, that is.

I've generally found a vehicle that's caught fire is not one worth keeping.
Fuel fires being least problematic but electrical ones the worst. If there
was something 'wrong enough' about the wiring that the designed system
couldn't handle via fuses I'm never confident it's going to get solved
without truly pinning down the problem. So if you're not absolutely sure
where the problems are you'll probably regret trying to keep it. But hey,
give it a shot!

-Bill Kearney

Billy Ray

And take pictures, lots of them..

--
Billy_Ray@SPAM.fuse.net (remove SPAM)
2002 Jeep WJ 4 Liter Automatic
Sharing is why we are all here....... or should be.
..
"wkearney99" <wkearney99@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:nvOdnR_Kioyts8TeRVn-gQ@speakeasy.net...
>> Depending on the harness you got, there are a couple ways to install
>> it. If it was labeled then you can tear out all the old stuff and go
>> for it.
>
> Do yourself a favor and get a bulk supply of zip ties. Securely
> reattaching
> the wires helps prevent a round of new electrical problems several years
> from now after the wires have bounced around, wore out or worked loose.
> Also remember not all connectors have a place to connect. Quite often a
> harness has applicabilty across several models and years. Some may have
> more connections than you have equipment for.
>
> It also helps to take copious notes on what connected to where and if the
> colors were different on both sides of the connector. I've had plenty of
> situations over the years where the plug had wires of one set of colors on
> the plug but another set on the socket. Never had to do much Jeep wiring
> so
> I don't know if that's a likely problem or not. But if you've got an
> in-line connector (not going direct into a socket on something) it really
> helps to make note of the colors. Assuming, of course, that the
> replacement harness follows factory colors, that is.
>
> I've generally found a vehicle that's caught fire is not one worth
> keeping.
> Fuel fires being least problematic but electrical ones the worst. If
> there
> was something 'wrong enough' about the wiring that the designed system
> couldn't handle via fuses I'm never confident it's going to get solved
> without truly pinning down the problem. So if you're not absolutely sure
> where the problems are you'll probably regret trying to keep it. But hey,
> give it a shot!
>
> -Bill Kearney
>