Newbie Electrical Troubleshooting Questions

[Adrock]

G'day gang,

I've just finished rebuilding my engine, my transmission is off at the shop getting the final parts of rebuild completed that I didn't have the tools to do myself at home. I'm now looking at the horrible wiring situation that is happening in the front luggage compartment and behind the dash. (1983 911 - Japan import)

The PO converted the car from LHD to RHD. Obviously a lot of electrics have to get switch over when doing a conversion. Unfortunately, he didn't do the best job of it and it was also incomplete.

Some obvious things that I need to fix are:

• Get all dash lights working - None currently work
• High beam indicator globe (blue light)
• Find a home for the blinking globe that I found behind the dash (I believe this is a Japan only EX globe that relates to the CAT system)
• Install side power mirrors. (A new harness was installed already just needs to be hooked up)
• Find homes for loose wires in frunk that aren't plugged into anything.
• Find out why interior light doesn't turn on when doors opened
• Get handbrake / seatbelt lights working
• probably lots more fun that I haven't found yet

I have a electrical probe tool where you can throw out power to a device and also test if it's earth or ground and a multimeter.

My first question is - I'm wondering if the fact that the side mirrors aren't installed could be the reason why some of the other electrics aren't working at the moment - eg. dash lights? At this point I'm terrible at reading wiring diagrams, but am working from the Bentley ones.

I'm also VAGUELY considering getting a new wiring harness and starting from scratch. Need to research that a bit more first. Any recommendations on who makes the best harnesses that don't cost as much as the car itself?

[HarryD]

For a harness, reach out to Timmy2 here.

Spend time learning the diagrams. If you can blow them up to a larger size to improve the readability (11" x 17" or 22" x 34").

Hopefully the factory color coding is intact. You can then follow the circuits and verify they are intact. Most are independent of each other.

It is tedious but not hard.

[Bigtoe32067]

I second the timmy2 recommendation. A new harness in the correct colors will make it much easier then trying to figure out what someone did in the past.
Plus it’ll look purty.
It sounds like you’ve invested in doing things right to this point I wouldnt skimp now.
Tony

[gamin]

+3 for Timmy2. Dennis is a great guy and easy to work with. He can make what you need.
He did some custom work for me. Beautiful. And lots of ID tags so you don't screw up.

[Adrock]

Thanks for the referral to Timmy2, I will shoot him a message tonight.

Here's the fun that I'm dealing with:

[7783911]

Oy

[timmy2]

Looks like a left hand harness spliced into a RHD dash harness with numerous multi pin connectors.
What could go wrong...

I replied to your email, don’t know if the replacement harness is more $$ than the car, depends on what You paid....

[911pcars]

geez

[Adrock]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

geez

Haha, imagine how I feel!

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[Adrock]

So, due to budget constraints and the Porsche fund being practically empty since I rebuilt the engine and transmission, it looks like I'll be working with the wiring that's in there. I also still have to replace the soft top and have the rhd conversion engineer certified. Ugh.
I'll post my progress pics here and cries for help too.

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[dfhtrhjn]

Good lord look a that wiring.

[911pcars]

It will help if you can source the same factory color-coded wire to splice and continue the circuit to its target location. Either that or apply ID tags onto each wire, perhaps with the assigned color code.

Sherwood

[Adrock]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

It will help if you can source the same factory color-coded wire to splice and continue the circuit to its target location. Either that or apply ID tags onto each wire, perhaps with the assigned color code.

Sherwood

Good tip! Thanks.
I had a look on the weekend and I noticed that the brown wire on one side of the connector isn't continued through the same spot on the other side of the connector. I know it's not a factory one, but wouldn't it make sense to continue to it?

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[timmy2]

I would assume the person that did the conversion did not have the 100’or so different wire size and color combinations on hand.
Likely made their own wire map up with what they had...

Just some of my wire assortment.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by Adrock

Good tip! Thanks.
I had a look on the weekend and I noticed that the brown wire on one side of the connector isn't continued through the same spot on the other side of the connector. I know it's not a factory one, but wouldn't it make sense to continue to it?

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

If those circuits function as designed, it'd be fairly easy to continue the factory wiring from the left half of that connector and substitute the correct color in the right half to its destination. Sourcing factory wiring is the next challenge. Short of having a similar car to cannibalize or a good relationship with Timmy2, there are a few internet sources that specialize in multi-color automotive wire.

Sherwood

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

If those circuits function as designed, it'd be fairly easy to continue the factory wiring from the left half of that connector and substitute the correct color in the right half to its destination. Sourcing factory wiring is the next challenge. Short of having a similar car to cannibalize or a good relationship with Timmy2, there are a few internet sources that specialize in multi-color automotive wire.

Sherwood

You need to check the wiring diagrams since for some reasons, occasionaly the wire color will change at the connector.

Need wire, try Eagle Day (https://eagleday.stores.yahoo.net/elparandtool.html).

[timmy2]

As he is in Australia, I doubt he will order from Eagle fray or me.
Shipping and duty is a killer there.
I’m sure there are more local sources for striped wires he can find.

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by timmy2

As he is in Australia, I doubt he will order from Eagle fray or me.
Shipping and duty is a killer there.
I’m sure there are more local sources for striped wires he can find.

Ah... didn't catch that.

[timmy2]

Yeah, the exchange on the dollar, plus what I mentioned above is what is driving him to DIY it.
Lol, just looked at my last post, Day was autocorrected to fray...

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by timmy2

Lol, just looked at my last post, Day was autocorrected to fray...

He-he.