Wiring harness

[tomtrout]

Any thoughts out there on a wiring harness for my S2 Vixen?

I did take delivery of an "off-the-shelf" harness from one company I found on the web and although I knew it would require some mods, in reality I would have had to completely butcher it to get it anywhere near suitable for my car. I am now thinking of either a custom harness, modifying something like a standard TR4 or similar, or making one from scratch myself. The trouble is I've only got about 10% of the original loom so I've got nothing useful to use as a template. I am leaning towards making one myself but never having built one from scratch I'm a little daunted by the prospect. Also I wondered if anyone had a decent wiring diagram. I did download one from the web but it's a bit fuzzy.

Any advice or thoughts would be great.

[Astacus]

I do have one for an S2, but it's from the owners manual. Would that be useful?

[daza]

I purchased a kit car loom for a lotus 7 or similar. Its very cost effective you get instructions and just adapt it to what you want. The loom came in three main parts including the relay and fuse boards. It would be well within your ability by the sound of it.

D

[ATE399J]

Andy,

I did my own loom for my Tuscan. As a whole it is daunting but if you do one wire at a time it's not that bad. Also, it gives you the opportunity to add any changes you may want - more that just 2 fuses, relays for high power items, alternator conversion, radio power (constant AND switched), etc. etc.

I started with Taimar and Spitfire diagrams. Since its topographical anyway as long as it has the same "services" I don't think it matters too much.

I also bought wires with the correct colour / trace so that later on I could tell my indicators from my cigar lighter etc. I bought the whole lot from Autosparks ( http://www.autosparks.co.uk/ ). I notice that they also do a loom for about £300.

Phil

[tomtrout]

Thanks for your thoughts. Astacus - thanks but I already have a photo copy of the owners manual which does have the wiring diagram, albeit not very clear.

It was the autosparkes harness that I bought. No complaints about the quality and the one sent to me might well be just the job for a 1600M but there was so much that was supurflous to my needs. I think it might be easier to start with something much more basic and just add what I need and retape it.

[Astacus]

Am glad you mentioned the issue with ,your purchased loom. This was the one I was considering. I do have the remnants of a loom but it's in several bits. Also I was hoping to carry out some sensible electrical upgrades,so if anyone does solve this issue, I'd like to hear about it.

[RCK974X]

If you're not frightened of doing your own wiring, an old loom from something like a Cortina,Escort, Triumph from a scrappers will provide lots of nice colour coded wires, and possibly fuseboxes and good connectors too. Most of the cars of that era used same colour codes, which is useful.

I've done that quite a few times for kit cars and refurbs, and I have 3 sets in the shed right now (for my Wedge) and the Vixen is mostly finished....

You do need some tools though, crimpers, soldering iron, etc, and go to someone like RS and get a bulk order of spade connectors and covers, and cable ties.

There are also various 'tube' type covers which can be used, I've stil got some from a long time ago...er... rilfilec ?? something like that, which is a basket weave type cover, quite neat when finished.

Newer cars too, but you get lots of tiny wires for all the extra crap, and the colour codes are different, but still useful, just more time to strip out the extra stuff...

Edited by RCK974X on Wednesday 18th April 20:21

[ATE399J]

If you decide to do it yourself this might help.... < http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=a... >

There's also a Haynes Auto Electrician book that I found very helpful.

[djc100]

Hi
www.polevolt.co.uk have been very helpful to me sorting out what bits to use etc. - My car has a coloured loom so I guess it's been rewired at some time, however I am doing a part re-wire mainly to add fuses and relays etc.
They do most coloured wires (incl. tracer's) cut to any length you want etc.
As previously post - invest in a good quality crimper - saves hours and end result looks professional.
Polevolt's wiring diagrams are good to help get the logic into your head. I followed their starter/charger circuit when fitting an uprated Alternator, power ditribution and master switch, which I wanted in fused circuits.
http://www.polevolt.co.uk/acatalog/Start%20&%2...

Also of great help is the list of wire colours from www.rv8r.co.uk/wiring.html

David

Edited by djc100 on Thursday 19th April 13:44

Edited by djc100 on Thursday 19th April 16:59