Wiring nightmare

[JeepLife]

Wow, I don't think I have ever seen such bad wiring on the FrankenJeep. Can anyone tell me what the wiring block that I am guessing passes the wires through the firewall? (on a fiberglass tub) And it looks like we need to just rewire the whole damn thing. EZ looks like the best option? Not sure which option at this point. Stock was 79 CJ5 but now with the Chevy SB, Fiberglass tub, all the other aftermarket, I guess I should just try to wire to stock? Is this something that I should attempt having never done auto electrical before? Any guidance would be appreciated!

 

[IOPort51]

I, for one, have no idea at all what that is or where it came from. I would say you were in for a major wiring adventure.

With a fiberglass tub and a SBC there is no reason to do anything that had anything to do with Jeep. Go looking for something for an old Chevy truck?

 

[JeepLife]

IO, that is so not what I wanted to hear!! I just would like to get the headlights to work. Whoever worked on the wiring apparently loved splicing and had many rolls of electrical tape.

 

[kjkorina]

That plugs into the back of the fuse box through the firewall.

I just finished re wiring my 79 CJ5 with an EZ setup. It was pretty simple and the price was right. I had little automotive knowledge and NO electrical experience prior to this.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[IOPort51]

OK I have a few more questions if you want headlights.

do you have any kind of wiring going to the headlights?

Do you have a light switch?

Do you have a dimmer switch??

have you ever had any experience with bosh 5 pin relays?

Do you want to do this with more electrical tape or will you be soldering, heat shrinking and using spade connectors and weather tight plugs?
?

 

[JeepLife]

That plugs into the back of the fuse box through the firewall.

I just finished re wiring my 79 CJ5 with an EZ setup. It was pretty simple and the price was right. I had little automotive knowledge and NO electrical experience prior to this.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

Thanks! I guess I see a new fuse box in my future. I will get the kid to order the EZ kit. I think I read you can do it in phases. Thanks for the input!

 

[JeepLife]

OK I have a few more questions if you want headlights.

do you have any kind of wiring going to the headlights?

Do you have a light switch?

Do you have a dimmer switch??

have you ever had any experience with bosh 5 pin relays?

Do you want to do this with more electrical tape or will you be soldering, heat shrinking and using spade connectors and weather tight plugs?
?

There is wiring going to the headlights and they apparently work intermittently. I did find one wire tonight that is broken off just outside of the block the photo was of in the post. There is a light switch and dimmer. No experience with 5 pin or any other relays but it sounds like relays are the way to go. I will not be using electrical tape. My plan is solder and heat shrink. That was one of the few skills that I did gain during my time in the Navy.

 

[IOPort51]

The biggest short coming with CJ wiring is that they liked to run high amperage through the switches. It becomes a problem when you can feel the light switch getting hot or the stake on melting.

the fix for this is to use relays that take power directly from the battery go through a suitable fuse and be controlled by a 30 or 40 amp relay mounted conveniently on the fender. The relay coil is powered by a low amp circuit that goes through the dash switch. This works very well for high/low beam lights , electric fans horns and heater fans. the marker and turn signal lights are low current and can stay on the original circuits.

It really makes no difference if you go with after market harness or pull something from a grave yard this is a good thing to do.

http://www.dlcparts.com/images/BoschGuide.pdf

I would suggest that you study this for a bit so you understand how relays work. there are several different makes and they can be water proof.
but this is about the best reference I have seen on them.



This is by no means the best example of a good relay set up, in fact, it looks a lot neeter now than it does in this picture but this controls the high /low beam, electric fan, off road lights(only come on with high beams)and can handle two more circuits like more lights or on board air/ welding alternator.

can you take some pictures of the fuse block from the other side of the fire wall?
http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/../gallery/files/1/1/9/3/dscn2684.jpg

 

[JeepLife]

Wow! Thanks IO! Great info. I will grab a photo tonight when the boy brings the CJ home.

Cheers!

 

[dochereford]

I'm installing a Painless harness next weekend into a 79 CJ. I run a 91 chevy 350 TBI.

Let's network a little and work together. Im game.

 

[thetank]

your right about it passing through the fire wall...what do you want to know exactly? you can clean the electrical grease off and replace the wires from the plug out
the wires on the left half are starter and sylenoid the top of the right half go to your lights...i think green to headlights and white to turn signals...if you want i can look at mine and give you a more detailed list of what goes where.....but i really think you are missing some wires coming out

 

[mylittlecj5]

start with this write-up and have at it...
BASIC WIRING 101, Getting You Started! - JeepForum.com

 

[IOPort51]

this rocks pal, thanks!!

start with this write-up and have at it...
BASIC WIRING 101, Getting You Started! - JeepForum.com