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Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:01 pm

How hard is it to create your own wireharness? How do I know what gauge and color I need? I know it would be easier to buy a wireharness but I really want to do this. Thanks!

Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:15 pm

Can you do it...well, probably. But not sure why you'd want to.
Cost: By the time you buy various wire, connectors, etc etc I don't
really think you'll be all that much cheaper than a good quality harness.
Time: How much is your time worth? You'll need to trace all wires in the old harness, measure, apply applicable terminal end (spade lug, etc) and hope you didn't make 1 or 2 mistakes that will make you go crazy trying to find out why something doesn't work with your new harness.
Quality: purchasing a good quality harness ensures continuity in the quality of the work, terminals are all applied correctly, etc.. and has the color coding already for you.

Might be just me... I don't mind spending hours working on my bug, but I don't want to waste time working on my bug doing something that I can pay the same (or a little more) for, do the conversion and move on. :D

Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:29 pm

get a wiring diagram. buy loooooots of wire and connectors. and yes. the wiring diagram tells you the guage of the wire

Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:45 pm

I'm with julrich366 on this: Unless you are laid up with broken leg and literally have nothing to do but watch General Hospital and create your own wiring harness...it is one of the best examples of something to BUY rather than to build.

M

Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:50 pm

In order to buy the wire you'd need, you'll have to buy about 25 different types (assuming you want to match the color codes - and trust me, you DO want to match them!) of wire, each and every one of which you'll need to buy a certain minimum amount (usually a lot more than you need, except for brown with no stripe, which is used for ground). You'll need all the connectors, a crimp tool, wire strippers, and a LOT of time. By the time all is said and done, you'll have a harness that costs more, takes longer, and is much more work... You're better off either buying the correct harness (off any of the vendors on this site) or getting an aftermarket one. Running a single wire, or even a few of them, is not such a bad job. The complete harness? Whole different story.

Stray

Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:36 pm

I don't get why so many people stray away from making one...it's not that hard. If the wire you are buying ends up costing a lot, then by all means just buy the harness. But the actual process requires very little effort.