A little story about why not to use crimp style connectors

[Kevin.A]

I did an RB swap on my 86 300zx a few months ago, i have an aftermarket tach, but i never wired up my cluster tach. I few days ago i came across the a write up on how to do it for a vg33 swap, so i figured i'm good at electronics, let me see if i can adapt this to work for my car.When i did the swap, i installed a apexi safc i had laying around to lean it out a little, until i got together the money for a stand alone unit. i used crimp style connectors thinking, it's f-ing cold out in december in New Jersey, i don't want to drag my soldering gun all the way out to ware i park my car...

Well, i was digging around where the ECU is, looking for a connector labeled 6a (the other end of the dash harness) and i couldn't find it. after about an hour, i decided to give up the search, and just remove my dash sometime later this weekend, and do the wiring correctly. Well, in my rummaging, no less then 5 wires pulled out of there crimp connectors.

i ended up soldering all of the wires, even the ones i used a crimp on that didn't pull out.

bottom line, I've learned my lesson, crimp connectors suck donkey c*** and i'm never going to use them on my car again.

what a wasted afternoon....

Kevin A

[DriftX]

crimps are fine, most people just use the wrong size or a junk crimper

[AZhitman]

Buy good connectors and a good ratcheting crimp tool.

Cheap connectors and the lame $3 Harbor Freight crimper = Suck.

[StricNyne]

rayco i think it the company we buy our stuff from

[gawdzilla]

the factory harnesses have crimps in them too. it'll last if done right, but most don't do it right so soldering is better

[robbie2883]

the wire should break before the crimp gives out if it's done correct.

[240z4u]

Agreed with the above. Some codes re; marine boat wiring mandate crimp connections.

I use quality connectors (ace hardware has decent ones) and a set of klein crimpers. Its not as good as the ratcheting type but I have never had one fail that was the fault of the tool.

It is nice to have things soldered and shink'ed though just because it tends to be more compact.

Evan

[Carl H]

orientation of the crimp connector is also very important, and most people dont realize this.when i do safc installs i use bullet splices to bypass the maf wiring should the safc be removed or need to be bypassed.not had a problem or complaint yet.