By far the worse SAFC and MSD tach adapter install I've encountered!

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Cygnus, Nov 27, 2008.

  1. Cygnus

    Cygnus Platinum Supporting Member

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    What's sad is there's a few local SRT-4's running around with their SAFC/DTEC installed this way. Due to being a nice individual I will not mention the name of the installer, not a shop but an individual doing this work at his house. Pics are included in this thread... lots of them...

    A local friend/SRT-4 owner wanting me to remove a few parts and install others yesterday came by. He wanted me to remove his SAFCII and MSD tach adapter. Okay, no problem I've done it before including on my car. Well, it wasn't like my car or others I've removed. This was a nightmare from HELL!

    The wires going to the PCM were only (2) colors (Yellow and Green). To top it off, they were all binded up and tangled between other wires and TIP sensor bracket and wrapped around with the Water/Meth wires. Only solution was to cut the wires and uninstall it in two places... taking much longer on uninstalling.

    Here are the pics with comments:
    Last PCM plug notice the duct tape and the exposed yellow/green wires...
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    Tangled mess of exposed wires yellow/green wrapped around the water/meth wires...
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    More exposed wires and a complete mess and instead of making a hole in the rubber grommet on the firewall to push the SAFC wires through, the gromment was pushed out and the SAFC wires were up against the firewall frame rubbing. Completely unsafe!
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    Wires ran to the MAP sensor? Why? Another FAIL! These wires were suppose to go and splice close to the PCM harness plug wiring. Top it off, it was cut short close to the MAP sensor plug and a take look... the wires were not even soldered! They were just twist tied!!!
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    Lets go take a look at the MSD tach adapter, noticed the crimp connectors? Yeah, that's a big NO. You DO NOT use crimp connectors! All connections must be soldered!
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    The excessive tach signal wire just hanging there and to look another twist tied connection from the tach signal wire to the SAFC...
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    Alright so lets take a look at the wiring harness end of the SAFC. Didn't come with the extended harness, no biggie there's plenty that don't have them and they are still usuable. You would have to extend the harness, which is okay but crimp connectors to use to extend the harness... NOT OKAY!
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    Time to give the PCM plugs a look to remove the wires that went to the SAFC. Oh look, duct tape... lets take a look at the wires and connections. What do you know... not soldered just twist tied around...
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    I uninstalled the SAFC/Tach Adapter and cleaned up the mess. Soldered connections that needed to be soldered and used electrical tape. Much cleaner now and much SAFER!

    This is by far the worse SAFC/Tach Adapter install I've ever encountered and by far the worse install on anything electrical I've encountered. I did take a look at another locals SRT-4 yesterday that also came by my house and his SAFC/Tach Adapter was installed by this same individual that did the above install and it was done in a similiar way. There are a number of SRT-4's from near by to about 100 miles away from my house that have had their SAFC/DTEC with tach adapter installed by this individual and installed just as you saw in the pics... scary...
     
  2. NYCSRTATE

    NYCSRTATE Maximus Want 2 Go Fastius

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    That my friend is what we would call a butcher.

    Got to love work like this, keeps people like me in buisness, I see this at work all the time.
     
  3. AsThe_SkyFalls

    AsThe_SkyFalls Pandaa

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    Looks line mine :D
     
  4. Vipz

    Vipz Attack the 'Ring

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    i remember when my car looked like that ;)
     
  5. Cygnus

    Cygnus Platinum Supporting Member

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    Yeah, I was a bit shocked to see it installed this way. Its definately a half-assed job.

    I'm just glad I was able to take care of this before anything were to happen. I can only imagine what you see haha, I bet you have seen worse.

    I hope not the connections... maybe just the wiring being everywhere?

    :shifty:
     
  6. Quick

    Quick Mgmt. - I can't help you

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    That looks just like the install I did on my $40 deluxe radio in my first car :erm:.
     
  7. StillANeon

    StillANeon Full Access Member

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    Stuff like that upsets me. When it comes to wiring don't half ass it.
     
  8. Goats

    Goats God of skittles

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    ouch
     
  9. master_1011

    master_1011 The Man.

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    While I agree the the twisting was stupid and the wires were a complete mess...whats wrong with crimp connectors??

    Serious question...I know soldering is probably the best, but what is negative about crimping??
     
  10. Supermario

    Supermario Joor mom meng!

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    Resistance..... Your pushing .5v (just a random number) through a light guage wire, then into a hunk of aluminum in a butt connector, back out to a light guage wire. Solder completes the connection as if there was no cut in the wire. SAFC and DTEC read small voltages and push the info to the PCM to change fuel trim. If its off by .1v you will throw off your AFR's among other things.

    I am sure of you check the Ohm's on the connection you would be suprised.
     
  11. master_1011

    master_1011 The Man.

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    Oh. Thanks.

    I don't have an SAFC/tach adapter or anything...I was just asking.....However, I used the crimp conectors on my TPS repair.....Maybe that why it didn't take to well....Time to fire up my soldering torch...
     
  12. beckerb

    beckerb Platinum Supporting Member

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    Wow....I guess the telephone company needs to hire this guy.....
     
  13. Supermario

    Supermario Joor mom meng!

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    Ahh.. thats cool. Yea, do yourself a favor and re-install the TPS repair and solder the connections. I know its a pain in the azz, but it will make the current flow as if there was no cut in the wire. Scotch locks are also a no no. :eek:oh:

    Guam? The guy my parents purchased their house from moved back to Guam when he left NJ. He was in the Army, and i assume he was stationed in Fort Monmouth while he was here.
     
  14. master_1011

    master_1011 The Man.

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    Guam was good times....Especially good if our single!

    What are scotch locks?? I am not very electrically inclined....When I installed S2 w/toys, I had my electrician tech friend do the wiring :grin:
     
  15. Supermario

    Supermario Joor mom meng!

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    its a lock in essance that splices a wire without having to cut anything. You lay the wire your trying to splice into, in the lock, and then the wire you need to connect. Clip it and squeeze it. it will cut into the wire and make a connection. basicly a butt connector, but less hassle.

    There are a bunch of diffrent designs, but below will give you an idea.

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    If your going to splice wires, it is always a good idea to solder.