Grand Wagonner Witing Harness Question
 

My '84 Grand Wagoneer has a burnt switch block behind the headlight
switch. The fire scorched the switch, but also melted the female wire
connector with seven (7) wires that attaches to the male spade ends on
the switch.

My problem is that this plug and its associated wires is part of the
greater wiring harness that connects to a trunk of bound wires that
connects to another trnk of wires, etc.

Can I splice these wire in order to wire a new plug?

My parts supplier says we can order the wired-up plug from the Jeep
dealer, but I don't know where to splice it into the harness, which is
tightly bound with electrical tape.

Any and all help will be appreciated!

Randall Brink
randallbrink@mac.com

Re: Grand Wagonner Witing Harness Question
 

Sometimes they call it a plug with the pigtails. It could be a
replacement like that wit a foot or so of wire seeing as those switches
melt down a lot or it could be a harness replacement part.

But either way, you can just cut out the old plug and solder in the new
wires and plug.

Just FYI, it is a GM headlight switch that all the full sized GMs use.
You could likely just go to a wrecker and cut your own plug with
pigtails out of a GM van or something.

I put a new one in and the sucker melted down within 5 years so I put a
rocker switch in and a relay. I have amazingly white headlights now. I
still use the stock switch for the running lights, that part didn't melt
down.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/in...?id=2120343242
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)


randallbrink@adelphia.net wrote:
>
> My '84 Grand Wagoneer has a burnt switch block behind the headlight
> switch. The fire scorched the switch, but also melted the female wire
> connector with seven (7) wires that attaches to the male spade ends on
> the switch.
>
> My problem is that this plug and its associated wires is part of the
> greater wiring harness that connects to a trunk of bound wires that
> connects to another trnk of wires, etc.
>
> Can I splice these wire in order to wire a new plug?
>
> My parts supplier says we can order the wired-up plug from the Jeep
> dealer, but I don't know where to splice it into the harness, which is
> tightly bound with electrical tape.
>
> Any and all help will be appreciated!
>
> Randall Brink
> randallbrink@mac.com

Re: Grand Wagonner Witing Harness Question
 

Sometimes they call it a plug with the pigtails. It could be a
replacement like that wit a foot or so of wire seeing as those switches
melt down a lot or it could be a harness replacement part.

But either way, you can just cut out the old plug and solder in the new
wires and plug.

Just FYI, it is a GM headlight switch that all the full sized GMs use.
You could likely just go to a wrecker and cut your own plug with
pigtails out of a GM van or something.

I put a new one in and the sucker melted down within 5 years so I put a
rocker switch in and a relay. I have amazingly white headlights now. I
still use the stock switch for the running lights, that part didn't melt
down.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/in...?id=2120343242
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)


randallbrink@adelphia.net wrote:
>
> My '84 Grand Wagoneer has a burnt switch block behind the headlight
> switch. The fire scorched the switch, but also melted the female wire
> connector with seven (7) wires that attaches to the male spade ends on
> the switch.
>
> My problem is that this plug and its associated wires is part of the
> greater wiring harness that connects to a trunk of bound wires that
> connects to another trnk of wires, etc.
>
> Can I splice these wire in order to wire a new plug?
>
> My parts supplier says we can order the wired-up plug from the Jeep
> dealer, but I don't know where to splice it into the harness, which is
> tightly bound with electrical tape.
>
> Any and all help will be appreciated!
>
> Randall Brink
> randallbrink@mac.com

Re: Grand Wagonner Witing Harness Question
 

Sometimes they call it a plug with the pigtails. It could be a
replacement like that wit a foot or so of wire seeing as those switches
melt down a lot or it could be a harness replacement part.

But either way, you can just cut out the old plug and solder in the new
wires and plug.

Just FYI, it is a GM headlight switch that all the full sized GMs use.
You could likely just go to a wrecker and cut your own plug with
pigtails out of a GM van or something.

I put a new one in and the sucker melted down within 5 years so I put a
rocker switch in and a relay. I have amazingly white headlights now. I
still use the stock switch for the running lights, that part didn't melt
down.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/in...?id=2120343242
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)


randallbrink@adelphia.net wrote:
>
> My '84 Grand Wagoneer has a burnt switch block behind the headlight
> switch. The fire scorched the switch, but also melted the female wire
> connector with seven (7) wires that attaches to the male spade ends on
> the switch.
>
> My problem is that this plug and its associated wires is part of the
> greater wiring harness that connects to a trunk of bound wires that
> connects to another trnk of wires, etc.
>
> Can I splice these wire in order to wire a new plug?
>
> My parts supplier says we can order the wired-up plug from the Jeep
> dealer, but I don't know where to splice it into the harness, which is
> tightly bound with electrical tape.
>
> Any and all help will be appreciated!
>
> Randall Brink
> randallbrink@mac.com

Re: Grand Wagonner Witing Harness Question
 

On 29 Nov 2005 18:28:45 -0800, randallbrink@adelphia.net wrote:

>My '84 Grand Wagoneer has a burnt switch block behind the headlight
>switch. The fire scorched the switch, but also melted the female wire
>connector with seven (7) wires that attaches to the male spade ends on
>the switch.
>
>My problem is that this plug and its associated wires is part of the
>greater wiring harness that connects to a trunk of bound wires that
>connects to another trnk of wires, etc.
>
>Can I splice these wire in order to wire a new plug?

Yes. I've done a couple of plugs that way over the years. It works
fine. If you can't get a new plug, a salvage yard will have one. You
can also crimp new female connectors onto the old plug's wires, and
eliminate the plug altogether, if worse comes to worse.
>
>My parts supplier says we can order the wired-up plug from the Jeep
>dealer, but I don't know where to splice it into the harness, which is
>tightly bound with electrical tape.

Follow each wire to the point where it disappears into the harness.
Use a pair of side cutters or sharp-ended scissors to carefully snip
the tape lengthwise along the harness until you expose enough of each
wire to strip and make the splice. Cut each wire of the old plug as
you get ready to splice it-don't cut them all off first, as the color
codes of some of the new harness' wires may be different from the
original.
>

Dan

Proud owner of a '77 Cherokee Chief that still makes all the daily
rounds.
>Any and all help will be appreciated!
>
>Randall Brink
>randallbrink@mac.com

Re: Grand Wagonner Witing Harness Question
 

On 29 Nov 2005 18:28:45 -0800, randallbrink@adelphia.net wrote:

>My '84 Grand Wagoneer has a burnt switch block behind the headlight
>switch. The fire scorched the switch, but also melted the female wire
>connector with seven (7) wires that attaches to the male spade ends on
>the switch.
>
>My problem is that this plug and its associated wires is part of the
>greater wiring harness that connects to a trunk of bound wires that
>connects to another trnk of wires, etc.
>
>Can I splice these wire in order to wire a new plug?

Yes. I've done a couple of plugs that way over the years. It works
fine. If you can't get a new plug, a salvage yard will have one. You
can also crimp new female connectors onto the old plug's wires, and
eliminate the plug altogether, if worse comes to worse.
>
>My parts supplier says we can order the wired-up plug from the Jeep
>dealer, but I don't know where to splice it into the harness, which is
>tightly bound with electrical tape.

Follow each wire to the point where it disappears into the harness.
Use a pair of side cutters or sharp-ended scissors to carefully snip
the tape lengthwise along the harness until you expose enough of each
wire to strip and make the splice. Cut each wire of the old plug as
you get ready to splice it-don't cut them all off first, as the color
codes of some of the new harness' wires may be different from the
original.
>

Dan

Proud owner of a '77 Cherokee Chief that still makes all the daily
rounds.
>Any and all help will be appreciated!
>
>Randall Brink
>randallbrink@mac.com

Re: Grand Wagonner Witing Harness Question
 

On 29 Nov 2005 18:28:45 -0800, randallbrink@adelphia.net wrote:

>My '84 Grand Wagoneer has a burnt switch block behind the headlight
>switch. The fire scorched the switch, but also melted the female wire
>connector with seven (7) wires that attaches to the male spade ends on
>the switch.
>
>My problem is that this plug and its associated wires is part of the
>greater wiring harness that connects to a trunk of bound wires that
>connects to another trnk of wires, etc.
>
>Can I splice these wire in order to wire a new plug?

Yes. I've done a couple of plugs that way over the years. It works
fine. If you can't get a new plug, a salvage yard will have one. You
can also crimp new female connectors onto the old plug's wires, and
eliminate the plug altogether, if worse comes to worse.
>
>My parts supplier says we can order the wired-up plug from the Jeep
>dealer, but I don't know where to splice it into the harness, which is
>tightly bound with electrical tape.

Follow each wire to the point where it disappears into the harness.
Use a pair of side cutters or sharp-ended scissors to carefully snip
the tape lengthwise along the harness until you expose enough of each
wire to strip and make the splice. Cut each wire of the old plug as
you get ready to splice it-don't cut them all off first, as the color
codes of some of the new harness' wires may be different from the
original.
>

Dan

Proud owner of a '77 Cherokee Chief that still makes all the daily
rounds.
>Any and all help will be appreciated!
>
>Randall Brink
>randallbrink@mac.com

Re: Grand Wagonner Witing Harness Question
 

One suggestion. When you splice in the new connector, make each wire
a different length. Then when you solder and tape each wire, then
tape the complete cable you won't end up with a big lump at the
splices.

----

On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 21:47:59 -0500, Mike Romain <romainm@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

>Sometimes they call it a plug with the pigtails. It could be a
>replacement like that wit a foot or so of wire seeing as those switches
>melt down a lot or it could be a harness replacement part.
>
>But either way, you can just cut out the old plug and solder in the new
>wires and plug.
>
>Just FYI, it is a GM headlight switch that all the full sized GMs use.
>You could likely just go to a wrecker and cut your own plug with
>pigtails out of a GM van or something.
>
>I put a new one in and the sucker melted down within 5 years so I put a
>rocker switch in and a relay. I have amazingly white headlights now. I
>still use the stock switch for the running lights, that part didn't melt
>down.
>
>Mike

Re: Grand Wagonner Witing Harness Question
 

One suggestion. When you splice in the new connector, make each wire
a different length. Then when you solder and tape each wire, then
tape the complete cable you won't end up with a big lump at the
splices.

----

On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 21:47:59 -0500, Mike Romain <romainm@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

>Sometimes they call it a plug with the pigtails. It could be a
>replacement like that wit a foot or so of wire seeing as those switches
>melt down a lot or it could be a harness replacement part.
>
>But either way, you can just cut out the old plug and solder in the new
>wires and plug.
>
>Just FYI, it is a GM headlight switch that all the full sized GMs use.
>You could likely just go to a wrecker and cut your own plug with
>pigtails out of a GM van or something.
>
>I put a new one in and the sucker melted down within 5 years so I put a
>rocker switch in and a relay. I have amazingly white headlights now. I
>still use the stock switch for the running lights, that part didn't melt
>down.
>
>Mike

Re: Grand Wagonner Witing Harness Question
 

One suggestion. When you splice in the new connector, make each wire
a different length. Then when you solder and tape each wire, then
tape the complete cable you won't end up with a big lump at the
splices.

----

On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 21:47:59 -0500, Mike Romain <romainm@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

>Sometimes they call it a plug with the pigtails. It could be a
>replacement like that wit a foot or so of wire seeing as those switches
>melt down a lot or it could be a harness replacement part.
>
>But either way, you can just cut out the old plug and solder in the new
>wires and plug.
>
>Just FYI, it is a GM headlight switch that all the full sized GMs use.
>You could likely just go to a wrecker and cut your own plug with
>pigtails out of a GM van or something.
>
>I put a new one in and the sucker melted down within 5 years so I put a
>rocker switch in and a relay. I have amazingly white headlights now. I
>still use the stock switch for the running lights, that part didn't melt
>down.
>
>Mike