How many connectors in a car?
 

Hi folks,
I've got a random question for work purposes. Do you know of any way to determine the total number and type of electrical connectors in a given car? For example, do service departments have a database of such things that if you had access to you could figure it out.

thanks!

A VW beetle or a Lincoln ?
One will have a couple hundred, the other will have ten thousand .
i am thinking there is no way to know.

Definitely true. At this point, I'm trying to determine if there is anyway to know for any vehicle (without working at the company).

I have had several experiences where I would have to go on line, find out what to tell the dealer to fix VIA his ACLU on his computer .
Being they do not know that information, i do doubt there will be a answer for your question.
Wiring harness are sold as a loom or bunch, (special order) The parts people could not even tell you how many wires you are getting.

Easy task. Do a search on "electrical diagram for XXX".

The first hit for me was a 68 Chevy truck.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1403554599.jpg

Others:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1403554666.jpg

I used to work at the company. We used to make the wiring harnesses for a number of brands of car. In regard to your question, umm, sorry I can't remmember :D . One thing that was quite interesting was some cars have three times the amount of wiring (and connectors) than another make of car.

That would be a lot of counting !
Also there are options with in spices .

Automotive Wire Harnesses and Connectors

Absolute shot in the dark but if I needed to answer you question I might give these guys a shout. These guys can replicate damn near any harness you need. I can't imagine them not having a database full of OEM information. My only connection to the company is my appraisers will call them when they run across a harness or connector that is unavailable or cost prohibitive OEM. -J

Maybe you could explain a little more what this is for, we could go at it from a different angle ??

way way way too many

you can't even buy a stripper any more with no stove or piano [no heater no radio]

and many cars come with un-used connectors for un-wanted options
some options are just un-pluged on some newer cars and re-plugging can give free stuff

Thanks for all the ideas. Basically, I'm working for a company trying size the market for electrical connectors in automobiles so just curious if there was an obvious source that listed the connectors by vehicle.

Wow. Would be great to know what free stuff I could get by re-plugging!

Ok i am stupid here, there is a connector problem in cars?
These will be perhaps gold plated or S.S. ? (serious)

Infinity +1 in my RV

I have a 12V cab system, 12V house, 120V house, generator, solar panel, shore power, 12V batteries, 6V batteries and 40 years of previous owners attempts to wire new things in or rip old ones out.

This is just the 12V cab system ......
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1403557725.jpg

The answer to your question is, no, this information isn't available at a dealer. Other than a SWAG, you'll never get a real good answer. With the number of different models out there in each brand, and the fact that no two examples of the same model will have the same numbers of connectors (different options, engines, etc.) you're going to have to just guess at it. If I gave you a car, a parts fiche and a week, at the end of the week all you'd have is a rough guess.

And, if you want to know the types too, good luck with that.

JR

For example, what are the makes that have lots and lots of wiring/connectors vs the brands that don't?

A Subaru had a really thick main wiring loom, and lots of connectors to fit it to the other smaller looms, lights and stuff. Whereas a Toyota, similar sized car, had way less.

Back in the day :rolleyes: when New Zealand used to actually assemble cars ourselves and everyone could get a job (but lets not go there), quite a few components were made locally. I worked for a place called Allied industries and we made wiring looms for GM (called Holden around here) and the Japanese manufactures. We also made battery cables and exported those.

Why try to back into the data when market reports already exist for what you're looking for?

Total connector automotive market was $10.2b in 2012, with an 8.1% CAGR between then and 2017.
29% in NA
35% in EU
21% in Japan
12% in China
11% Rest of Asia
17% ROW

You can buy the whole report from Bishop and Associates, the global expert in connector market research. Since Ron's a friend of mine, I can't really send the whole report in good conscience.

Bishop & Associates Inc. Performance and Forecast of the Worldwide Interconnect and Cable Assembly Industries

Btw, I'm a connector marketing guru and could be had for your project for the right price, of course.