Chris_911 Posted March 29, 2021 Author Share Posted March 29, 2021 4 minutes ago, PeterK said: Just rebuild it yourself and wrap with loom tape. If you don’t want to make the replacement main cable, I have an original thick red wire, removed when I fitted a Classic Retrofit hi-power alternator. If you want to go this way, just cover the postage, Chris. Thanks for your offer Peter. Do you mind me asking how old the cable is? I only ask as my car is an 88 and I think I'll make up a new one rather than replace with an old cable. Did you drop the engine (partial) to get the cable out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterK Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 It’s a’79 SC & the engine was out as part of my bare metal resto. I would recommend making a new cable, and I would go oversize (just in case a bigger alternator was in your future). The only drawback is trying to drag the cable through the rubber block / grommet thing that sits on the rearmost tinware (at least on the SC). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_911 Posted March 29, 2021 Author Share Posted March 29, 2021 7 minutes ago, PeterK said: It’s a’79 SC & the engine was out as part of my bare metal resto. I would recommend making a new cable, and I would go oversize (just in case a bigger alternator was in your future). The only drawback is trying to drag the cable through the rubber block / grommet thing that sits on the rearmost tinware (at least on the SC). I agree. Not sure if the SC harness is the same but on the 3.2 everything is routed through grey oversize plastic outer tubing. I'll get the existing wire off the car and measure up what I need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busybee Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 (edited) If its just the insulation thats degraded with heat, can't you just rewrap the existing cable with loom tape Chris? Get rid of the manky stuff first. Or, a proper job would be to remove that short bit of engine loom and heat shrink those cables with the appropriate colour heat shrink sleeve. £'s instead of hundreds. Edited March 30, 2021 by Busybee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_911 Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share Posted March 30, 2021 19 minutes ago, Busybee said: If its just the insulation thats degraded with heat, can't you just rewrap the existing cable with loom tape Chris? Get rid of the manky stuff first. Or, a proper job would be to remove that short bit of engine loom and heat shrink those cables with the appropriate colour heat shrink sleeve. £'s instead of hundreds. The existing cable is toast Haith - needs replacing. I've looked back at the pictures of the work I did last year when I had the intakes off and I can now see that that red cable is burned all the way back to the firewall. There are other cables which run with it which may also be damaged. Currently I am thinking of buying a new harness and doing the job once, and properly. Remember the car is 33 years old and nothing lasts forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busybee Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 33 minutes ago, Chris_911 said: The existing cable is toast Haith - needs replacing. I've looked back at the pictures of the work I did last year when I had the intakes off and I can now see that that red cable is burned all the way back to the firewall. There are other cables which run with it which may also be damaged. Currently I am thinking of buying a new harness and doing the job once, and properly. Remember the car is 33 years old and nothing lasts forever. True that. Plastics are the problem. Great for a few years under heat cycles but they loose their elasticity and crack as you've found. I'm no sparky so I stand to be corrected but I bet the actual copper will be fine. Re-sheath and they'll be good for another 30 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Rock Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 35 minutes ago, Chris_911 said: Currently I am thinking of buying a new harness and doing the job once, and properly. IIRC some of the wiring is NLA....well it was when I thinking of repairing my car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_911 Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share Posted March 30, 2021 9 minutes ago, Dr Rock said: IIRC some of the wiring is NLA....well it was when I thinking of repairing my car. Kroon Wiring Harnesses list one and say they have it in stock (though am checking directly): https://www.kroonwireharnesses.com/porsche-911/porsche-911-1988?product_id=529 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phill Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 My main concern would be what has caused the heat in the first place. That is not normal. There is no point in replacing the cable for it simply to fail again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_911 Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share Posted March 30, 2021 4 minutes ago, Phill said: My main concern would be what has caused the heat in the first place. That is not normal. There is no point in replacing the cable for it simply to fail again. Agreed Phill. The guys on Pelican suggest it has either seen reverse polarity at some point or there is a short to ground somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phill Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 56 minutes ago, Chris_911 said: Agreed Phill. The guys on Pelican suggest it has either seen reverse polarity at some point or there is a short to ground somewhere. Maybe solved with the alternator refurb? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_911 Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share Posted March 30, 2021 4 minutes ago, Phill said: Maybe solved with the alternator refurb? I'm doubtful, but I guess it is possible. I'll have to have a look at the old alternator parts and see if they give any clues. My car wasn't showing any electrical problems at all prior to removal of the alternator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_911 Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share Posted March 30, 2021 Going to order one of these I think.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limalbeps Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 Fantastic job Chris...this is on my next ‘to do list’ so I may be asking for advice in the future....love the look of the refurbed fan 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingnonut Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 On 30/03/2021 at 17:03, Chris_911 said: Going to order one of these I think.... Is that the Kroon one Chris? Seems awful spendy!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nige Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 Bet with all the pukka connectors, sleeves and widgets the parts add up, then if you factor in a few hours of your own time. Maybe need to buy some soldering kit it's not far off £400, maybe? Chris's car is pristine so it probably deserves it That crappy plastic main engine loom plug is about £40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Comerford Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 It looks like a quality item so £400 doesn’t appear unreasonable. Imagine how much Porsche might ask...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nige Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 Porsche part is double! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_911 Posted April 1, 2021 Author Share Posted April 1, 2021 49 minutes ago, Wingnonut said: Is that the Kroon one Chris? Seems awful spendy!!!! Yes that's from Kroon. I have ordered one. I don't think it's unreasonable - you start adding up the individual bits and it escalates quickly. It seems like a good quality product. I shall find out - hopefully soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_911 Posted April 8, 2021 Author Share Posted April 8, 2021 Getting ready to fit the new wiring harness. I figured that removing one side of the intake should give me enough room - looks as though I'm right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterK Posted April 8, 2021 Share Posted April 8, 2021 Get those open intakes covered 😱 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_911 Posted April 8, 2021 Author Share Posted April 8, 2021 25 minutes ago, PeterK said: Get those open intakes covered 😱 Don't fret Peter - they were covered after the image was captured 😎 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterK Posted April 8, 2021 Share Posted April 8, 2021 Phew 🤣🤣 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_911 Posted April 8, 2021 Author Share Posted April 8, 2021 Although an expense I could well have done without I'm convinced that replacing the whole wiring harness was the right call. I think this one has some tales to tell. I need to modify the yellow wire to the starter to match my non-standard high torque starter - needs lengthening a little and fitting with a spade connector. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLewis Posted April 8, 2021 Share Posted April 8, 2021 Good move on replacing the wiring. Fan refurb looks great too. A job on the long list of things for mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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