Help please - and dont take the wee wee

[Shnozz]

ok - I am being dumb here. The bulk connector under the steering column needs undoing as I think I have a loose connection in there. I have taken off the cover on the underside of the column so the connector is nicely exposed. But I cant figure out how the bloody thing comes apart!!!!! There appears to be a couple of placcy clips that need raising on each side. They are stubborn as anything and I dont want to snap them off if its something more simple than that!! is it just a case of levering them with a screwdriver and yanking the thing apart with brute force?

Someone help out an electrical thicko!

cheers

[Shnozz]

sorry - didnt explain properly. Have taken off the steering column cover with no probs -

its the actual plastic electrical connector that I cant pull apart - the main one to the ignition

[Shnozz]

thanks spn - can you tell me where you can buy them?

[Shnozz]

cheers Mark - much obliged. I thought a brains rather than braun (sp?) approach may be required.

[Shnozz]

much obliged to all of you for your help - and bloody pleased I asked the question now. Since a couple of you mention soldering the wires together I think I will follow that idea. Before I do however, what was the point of it originally having the connector fitted?

[Shnozz]

GreenV8S said: Agreed it would be easier than soldering. (That's the main reason I went for individual spade connectors.)

[quote]

and I thought it was only me that had this problem

I would rather not get out the soldering iron in view of the position I will have to work in to sort it. Interested to read that you used spade connectors Pete - did you just use insolation tape to keep them apart once the connectors were in place?

My mind has been wandering to making shrouds from thick cable to cover the wire and spade connector to ensure nothing touches?

looks like saturday is going to be taken up again!

[Shnozz]

hmm - thats making me think get auto-electrician to sort out. Dont want to find myself at 55mph with no lights again. Rather scary experience that.

[Shnozz]

Get a set of decent high current connectors from a vehicle specilaist and don't try to botch. It will come back to haunt you otherwise....

Steve

steve - what would you suggest - 15amp/35amp? I know little when it comes to electrics.

[shnozz]

just in case anyone suffers the same problem I thought I would post an update as I finally got around to sorting it out!

when i had a close look (with my head bent around the footwell like a yoga student) i could see that a fault had developed inside the connector to the point the ignition feed wire outside rubber had burned away at least an inch from the connector. The connector still would not open, even trying Johno's tips. I assume there is an assortment of melted plastic and wire inside! So I cut out the connector and stuck teh soldering iron at the steering column end to remove the wire. Re-wired in without using connector now so should not be any further problems.