Best way to replace wiring-yeah all of it. Ugh...

[TxTaz]

Hey all,
SO after doing a ton of work on my 01 Yukon, there is no way I'm ever getting rid of it. Everything on it is new or close to it...except the wiring.

What is the best way to replace all the wiring when rebuilding an 20 year old vehicle?
Has anyone gone the route of a crashed newer model and taking all its wiring and electronics? I put an 05 Escalade dash, A/C, center console and seats in my 01 this way.

Thanks,
Taz

 

[Tonyrodz]

Hey all,
SO after doing a ton of work on my 01 Yukon, there is no way I'm ever getting rid of it. Everything on it is new or close to it...except the wiring.

What is the best way to replace all the wiring when rebuilding an 20 year old vehicle?
Has anyone gone the route of a crashed newer model and taking all its wiring and electronics? I put an 05 Escalade dash, A/C, center console and seats in my 01 this way.

Thanks,
Taz

I'd completely gut the interior to start. Parts might've changed from your 01 to whatever year harness you'll use, such as window motors, airbags, pwr seat motors etc, meaning your new plugs might not plug into the 01 parts. Something to think about.

 

[TxTaz]

I'd completely gut the interior to start. Parts might've changed from your 01 to whatever year harness you'll use, such as window motors, airbags, pwr seat motors etc, meaning your new plugs might not plug into the 01 parts. Something to think about.

Yep, the plugs, modules, actuators, etc will all be different. I have no problems replacing anything or everything, just need to know which way others have done it.
After while, all the cool new parts money adds up and it would be a shame to have old wiring causing issues.
Case and point, take a look at your fuel pump/gauge wiring...then your tranny wiring. Mine were cracked and hard from being on top on the fuel tank for 20 years. The replacement fuel pumps come with looonnnggg wires for a reason. LOL
No clue why my tranny wiring went bad but the indicator would hesitate between 'N' and 'D'. Weird....

I'd like to prevent any other weird stuffs from happening.

Thanks,
Taz

 

[exp500]

Best way is during a body off resto- I would try to order new harness(s) from GM, If you get really lucky, you may find one on a dealers shelf, and if ya do play lets make a deal, I managed to find a Mitsubishi FI harness that way. List was #180, got it for #35 shipped. Of course your local parts guy has to help. Good Luck.

 

[Rocket Man]

Never known anybody to do this. Maybe repair it in the places where it’s gotten brittle but there’s no need to replace the entire harnesses. My 02 has no issues with any of the wiring. I replaced the fuel pump last year, that harness was fine. The ACDelco pump came with a kit to change the plug to the newer style but no long wires like you mentioned. I pulled my trans last year too and that harness was fine although I did replace the plug that goes to the neutral safety switch because I broke it getting it to unplug since they use glue. All engine compartment harnesses are fine too, I installed a supercharger a few years back and inspected or reworked them as needed to accommodate the blower. Most of the harnesses can’t be replaced without removing the body from the frame I don’t believe.

 

[ks03]

Unless you’re having lots of issues and know it’s from a damaged harness, you’re probably more likely to induce a problems, even if you got a new oem harness, than if you just let it be. repair individual issues as they arise.

 

[clandr1]

Unless you’re having lots of issues and know it’s from a damaged harness, you’re probably more likely to induce a problems, even if you got a new oem harness, than if you just let it be. repair individual issues as they arise.

This would be my advice as well. You'll likely be much better off replacing sections as needed versus trying to replace the entire thing all at once.

 

[Rocket Man]

The wiring harnesses for our trucks have been discontinued anyway.

 

[Teamiez]

I have 194,000 miles on my 01 rust belt truck, no issues. Radio fuse pops once in a blue moon still have yet to find out why.

 

[TxTaz]

Thanks for all the replies and info.
I don't have any issues at the moment. And I would prefer not to have any issues in the next 20 years. I'm 59, I have been fighting cancer for 6 years, had 7 major surgeries, lost so much weight I was anorexic, 6' 115lbs...I've gained 20 lbs. this year, yeah me!!! and still on too many medications to think straight at most times. At some point I won't be able to fix anything. My abilities are definitely not what they used to be and I have to pay others to do some things I no longer can. That's OK, it's life.
Sorry if this makes little sense, chemo brain has kicked in.
Thanks again,
Taz

 

[Rocket Man]

Thanks for all the replies and info.
I don't have any issues at the moment. And I would prefer not to have any issues in the next 20 years. I'm 59, I have been fighting cancer for 6 years, had 7 major surgeries, lost so much weight I was anorexic, 6' 115lbs...I've gained 20 lbs. this year, yeah me!!! and still on too many medications to think straight at most times. At some point I won't be able to fix anything. My abilities are definitely not what they used to be and I have to pay others to do some things I no longer can. That's OK, it's life.
Sorry if this makes little sense, chemo brain has kicked in.
Thanks again,
Taz

Sorry to hear about the health problems. I wouldn’t worry about the wiring. There might be a few places that need attention in time due to heat, like the fuel pump or trans harnesses or maybe a couple plugs in the engine bay but wiring doesn’t wear out like mechanical parts. 98% of it will last forever and the small amount that gets crispy can be spliced in easy enough with some soldering and heat shrink or if you’re not worried about looks there’s heat shrink crimp connectors now that you just crimp the wires like normal and then hit them with a heat gun and they seal up water tight.

 

[TxTaz]

Sorry to hear about the health problems. I wouldn’t worry about the wiring. There might be a few places that need attention in time due to heat, like the fuel pump or trans harnesses or maybe a couple plugs in the engine bay but wiring doesn’t wear out like mechanical parts. 98% of it will last forever and the small amount that gets crispy can be spliced in easy enough with some soldering and heat shrink or if you’re not worried about looks there’s heat shrink crimp connectors now that you just crimp the wires like normal and then hit them with a heat gun and they seal up water tight.

Thank you but that's life. Can't change it.
Thanks for the info. I have never heard of crimp and shrink wrap connectors. Personally I prefer solder and shrink wrap myself.
I would think all the wiring in the engine bay would eventually have issues. The body and interior not so much.
Taz