Bought an SC 400, I'm anal
10-26-08, 08:10 PM
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Bought an SC 400, I'm ****
I just picked up a 1993 SC 400 and upon doing my first oil change I noticed a few bad wiring issues and decided to correct them. Let me preface my introduction to this forum by stating that I own Stereo Integrity and am VERY **** when it comes to the electrical side of things. I have re-wired every vehicle I have owned and will do a complete re-wire job on this SC 400 in due time (0 gauge everywhere for the stereo and engine bay big 3 (alt to bat, bat to ground, chassis to ground - usually through the alt bracket).
Anyway, here was the wiring for the HID's:
Notice the proliferous use of electrical tape and the fuse wrapped in electrical tape. That doesn't cut it for me. At all. Also notice the relay not secured and the "ground" for the HID's (the 18 gauge wire going to the top of the fender). So I decided to do this:
Everything power-related upgraded to 8 gauge. Once I find out more information about the HID wiring I'll upgrade anything else that I didn't ugrade today.
Then I got under the car and noticed this atrocity:
This was after I gently pulled on the wiring. Wires twisted together and electrical taped. No wire nuts. Not heat shrink. Also note the blue butt-connectors. Blue butt-connectors are for 14-16 gauge. The wire used was 18 gauge. So I fixed the problem:
MUCH better! I still don't have any heat, but I think that's the solenoid I read about on this forum. Fixing this wiring still makes me fell a LOT better.
I'll keep this thread updated with my wiring upgrades and how-to's as I progress through the stereo.
Anyway, here was the wiring for the HID's:
Notice the proliferous use of electrical tape and the fuse wrapped in electrical tape. That doesn't cut it for me. At all. Also notice the relay not secured and the "ground" for the HID's (the 18 gauge wire going to the top of the fender). So I decided to do this:
Everything power-related upgraded to 8 gauge. Once I find out more information about the HID wiring I'll upgrade anything else that I didn't ugrade today.
Then I got under the car and noticed this atrocity:
This was after I gently pulled on the wiring. Wires twisted together and electrical taped. No wire nuts. Not heat shrink. Also note the blue butt-connectors. Blue butt-connectors are for 14-16 gauge. The wire used was 18 gauge. So I fixed the problem:
MUCH better! I still don't have any heat, but I think that's the solenoid I read about on this forum. Fixing this wiring still makes me fell a LOT better.
I'll keep this thread updated with my wiring upgrades and how-to's as I progress through the stereo.
10-26-08, 08:21 PM
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Looks good, but not a good idea using butt connectors in the engine bay of the car. You're in the most high corrosive, weathered, area on the entire car and that connection won't cut it. Cut those off and solder and shrink wrap it like it's supposed to be.
10-26-08, 08:28 PM
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The wires for the radiator were shrink wrapped (very little - right after the crimp, but before the original insulation. With the loom over top of them I don't foresee them getting that messed up in the next 5 years. If I own the car longer than that I'll re-do those two wire connections.
10-26-08, 08:57 PM
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^ wow, nice color car! 
I'm more than prepared for the wiring issues. My previous 3 cars were Honda's. Imagine working on a car that was owned by 15 year old kids who have no idea what a volt meter is.
I'm more than prepared for the wiring issues. My previous 3 cars were Honda's. Imagine working on a car that was owned by 15 year old kids who have no idea what a volt meter is.
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10-27-08, 08:20 AM
#10
Lexus Test Driver
Nice ride man love the wheels! You should have soddered the wires which would be a a lot stronger. Did you have a belly pan under the car when you got it? The wiring job that the person did before you looks real crappy.
Good luck with the new ride!
Good luck with the new ride!
10-27-08, 02:34 PM
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Thanks guys. Oh, hi Jon! Small world 'eh?
As for the soldering, I could have soldered the wires but there would have been a piece of wire in between the connector and the factory wires creating two solder joints per wire because the wires on the connector were VERY short. But like I said, I think the heat shrink and loom will protect the wires for the next 5 years or so. Hopefully anyway.
No belly pan. Is there supposed to be one?
As for the soldering, I could have soldered the wires but there would have been a piece of wire in between the connector and the factory wires creating two solder joints per wire because the wires on the connector were VERY short. But like I said, I think the heat shrink and loom will protect the wires for the next 5 years or so. Hopefully anyway.
No belly pan. Is there supposed to be one?
10-27-08, 08:01 PM
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what's up electro welcome and good luck with your car.i see you just got to nc from jersey.i'm here from md.if this keeps up we are going to have a good amount of sc guys in the area,we need it.im thinking we all need to meet up before winter sets in.i'll pm you.
