Wiring Looms

Author
Discussion

BigBen

Original Poster:

11,668 posts

231 months

Tuesday 6th May 2008
quotequote all
Hello,

Can anyone tell me if cars typically have separate looms for the engine and for other electrical bits ?

Ben

ELAN+2

2,232 posts

233 months

Tuesday 6th May 2008
quotequote all
depends on the car

stevieturbo

17,293 posts

248 months

Wednesday 7th May 2008
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A decent manufacturer would apply some logic to wiring looms.


French and Italian make them as awkward as possible, so when they fail, are a nightmare. And being French or Italian, they do fail.

dnb

3,330 posts

243 months

Wednesday 7th May 2008
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The French seem to go well out of their way to make them awkward. frown

toohuge

3,435 posts

217 months

Wednesday 7th May 2008
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dnb said:
The French seem to go well out of their way to make them awkward. frown
Cultural thing that!

Cider Andy

1,889 posts

226 months

Thursday 8th May 2008
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BigBen said:
Can anyone tell me if cars typically have separate looms for the engine and for other electrical bits?
Many cars do, yes. If I was creating a wiring loom from scratch it would be modular.

Transmitter Man

4,253 posts

225 months

Friday 9th May 2008
quotequote all
Talking of wiring looms and Italian leccy problems.

Who can recommend someone that's not a million miles from London and who's able to make a new (modular) loom up for me?

Phil
79 De Tomaso Longchamp GTS

ELAN+2

2,232 posts

233 months

Saturday 10th May 2008
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Transmitter Man said:
Talking of wiring looms and Italian leccy problems.

Who can recommend someone that's not a million miles from London and who's able to make a new (modular) loom up for me?

Phil
79 De Tomaso Longchamp GTS
what do you mean by "modular" and for what application?

Mark

Transmitter Man

4,253 posts

225 months

Thursday 15th May 2008
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Hi Mark,

Modular, as in seperate loom for engine bay, dash, and rest of the car.

Many looms are, I believe modular in design.

Phil
79 De Tomaso Longchamp GTS

ELAN+2

2,232 posts

233 months

Thursday 15th May 2008
quotequote all
I think I'm with you on that one phil. The modular aspect would normally relate to the body electrics, VAG and BMW tend to fit one loom to all of thier cars of the same model, then to add extras, such as electric mirrors/windows/seats, the additional sub loom (door for example) can be plugged into the body loom and "voila" boggo model becomes an S/E!
Engine looms tend to be separate in as much as it can be un plugged from the rest of the car and still remain attached to the engine, however its source of power can be difficult to isolate from the main loom on modern cars due to the complexity of things like CANBUS systems,ABS,climate control,traction control,immobilisers,transmission and so on. The days of the 3 wires to snip/unplug then reconnect for an injection system AKA late cavaliers and Sierras is long gone!

For a replacement loom for your DeTomasso, surely the easiest way would be to make your own? its not that difficult if you have a pattern to work from and can get the connectors (I'm guessing it'll be spades?), Unless a specialist supplier can make one up for you?
I've made a few Lotus ones in the past as they never used to be available, however on my current project i (made the mistake!) bought ready made ones....... that are as per the factory build and a fair few wires dont make sense!!
If you want to discuss this further, give me a call!

Mark


//j17

4,502 posts

224 months

Friday 16th May 2008
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You could try http://www.thewiringharness.co.uk/index.htm and http://www.autosparks.co.uk/ for custom made looms. Not local but provided they have made a loom for the car before they will have a jig and should be able to modularise the loom on that.

Jack_and_MLE

621 posts

240 months

Sunday 18th May 2008
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Talking about looms, could someone recomend a company close to Oxford who could make a new loom for my Caterham 21?

Cheers

Jack