Painless Wiring Harness Installation?

I really want to switch out my wiring harness to a painless because the one in my car right now is well looks like it has been spliced and just looks real ghetto. Now my question is how hard is it to do this myself because I am looking at over a $1k to have a shop do it. It doesnt actually seem so bad but I would like to get some input first.

BTW It would be for the car in my profile (98 z28 camaro)

-Rob

[shiftinda93z]

what's hacked on your current system? why not replace it with the like? Does it run/drive? I'd rock with it if it does... I'm not a fan of digging too deap into stuff that isn't broken.

Pics may help explain your situation...

[l337_haxs]

what's hacked on your current system? why not replace it with the like? Does it run/drive? I'd rock with it if it does... I'm not a fan of digging too deap into stuff that isn't broken.

Pics may help explain your situation...

It is a little hacked up underneath where there are splices and other problems. And their is a short somewhere in the wiring. So I planned on having a shop do it till they told me it is going to be well over $1k to do it. So I found a nice Painless one for $800 and thought I could probally do it myself since I prefer to anyways. I have done all of my mechanical repairs but wiring is a little scary if you get my drift.

And yes it runs and drives but shorts out and blows the gauges backlights if you put it in reverse and give it a little gas to backup.

[MrMojoRisin681]

There's ALOT of wires. I'm guessing it would take quite a bit of time.

[shiftinda93z]

It is a little hacked up underneath where there are splices and other problems. And their is a short somewhere in the wiring. So I planned on having a shop do it till they told me it is going to be well over $1k to do it. So I found a nice Painless one for $800 and thought I could probally do it myself since I prefer to anyways. I have done all of my mechanical repairs but wiring is a little scary if you get my drift.

And yes it runs and drives but shorts out and blows the gauges backlights if you put it in reverse and give it a little gas to backup.

well i'd focus on finding the problem wire(s) first, I hate to see people throw things at problems and not fix it. My wiring harness has splices, because I did it myself, it all depends on which wire(s) are spliced and how nice of a job was done. Did something snag wires on your car or why was it hacked?

[l337_haxs]

From what me and my buddy from worked figured is it looks like someone was trying to repair the short. But they did a real bad job and it is from what we can see made it worse. Ill get pics after I get off of work.

[MiT/A'96]

I would get me a manual on the perticluar model & year of car,then trace your problem wires down ,test them w/a tester .Then replace ,redo the bad areas.To me $1K seems sort of high . Have any friends with electrical Knowledge ??? Alot of times they are willing to help...

[zspot98]

I would get me a manual on the perticluar model & year of car,then trace your problem wires down ,test them w/a tester .Then replace ,redo the bad areas.To me $1K seems sort of high . Have any friends with electrical Knowledge ??? Alot of times they are willing to help...

X2...Get a Chiltons Manual (they have all the wire schematics <sp>) and a test light and go to town. No reason to spend a $1000 bucks when you could do it for $20 and a weekend.

[shiftinda93z]

well which wires were spliced will help too. then the question is, you say they spliced to fix the "short", so you will know where your "short" is...???

I've had to extend and soldier on wiring harnesses a few times, it's MUCH easier than replacing the entire thing! I have scematics on microfishe, but you'd have to come view it at my house lol. Get a Chilton's manual if you need it, but I'd just match the color of the wire to the next, the factory wiring harness is pretty friendly like that

Keep the questions coming...

[pHEnomIC]

Get some shrink wrap and redo the splices. Track down the problem yourself. You can make it look very good and fix your problem cheap.

[Keego Ridah]

Sounds to me you have a short or a bad ground somewhere

[97rs4life]

Sounds to me you have a short or a bad ground somewhere

uh he knows he has a short.

[Keego Ridah]

mehmet okur!

[willasc]

Believe me, if you are going to rewire everything on your '98, it would be a wiring nightmare, and Painless Wiring kit is not gonna cut it (punt intended). If you have ever seen a factory wire harness prior to installation. There are two main harness, chassis harness, and main body wire harness, MBWH, which does not even include the one inside the cockpit. If you are to redo everything, $1k is cheap (if it's done right). I woud rather order a factory harness, depend on chassis or main body, and replace that, mark everything, take photographs before doing it. If it's the MBWH, expect the tear the car completely apart. Since the MBWH is the first part that goes into a vehicle before anything else (before lights, carpet, seat, cockpit, console, you get the idea). I can't imagine someone can hack into the harness so bad to completely ruin the entire harness, I would suggest repair per factory manual or procedure unless you really really want a challenge or a clean fresh factory harness look. Trust me, I'm right on this one!

[l337_haxs]

Well this is really what I was going to do. Lemme get the info.

Part Number: 60506
Description: Fuel Injection Wiring Harness; EMC/PMC Service #s 16188051 Or 16238212; Controlled 4L60E Or 6 Speed Transmissions;

Features
Includes Everything You Need
Bulletproof OEM Style Fuse Block
Wiring Pre-Terminated To Fuse Block
Superior Circuit Protection
Highest Quality Wire You Can Buy
Color Coded Preprinted Wire
Comprehensive Instructions And Tech Support
Guaranteed For Life