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2001 Convertible A4 Engine Computer Harness Repair HELP!!!!

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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 05:12 PM
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Default 2001 Convertible A4 Engine Computer Harness Repair HELP!!!!

I just bought a 2001 Corvette Convertible A4. I bought it at a salvage auction in Texas. My dad is a dealer. The car has damage to the right front. The Computer was ripped off along with the connections for the wiring harness. I have a wiring diagram that tells me what each wire is for but a lot of the wires are the same colors. How can I tell the difference between them?
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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 06:32 PM
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Originally Posted by tc02vette
I just bought a 2001 Corvette Convertible A4. I bought it at a salvage auction in Texas. My dad is a dealer. The car has damage to the right front. The Computer was ripped off along with the connections for the wiring harness. I have a wiring diagram that tells me what each wire is for but a lot of the wires are the same colors. How can I tell the difference between them?
Look VERY CLOSELY, some wires that look alike have a very faint tracer (2nd color) line on them.
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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 07:18 PM
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Originally Posted by tc02vette
I just bought a 2001 Corvette Convertible A4. I bought it at a salvage auction in Texas. My dad is a dealer. The car has damage to the right front. The Computer was ripped off along with the connections for the wiring harness. I have a wiring diagram that tells me what each wire is for but a lot of the wires are the same colors. How can I tell the difference between them?
You're exactly right, time for the Ohm Meter and a lot of tracing wires.
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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by dougbfresh
Look VERY CLOSELY, some wires that look alike have a very faint tracer (2nd color) line on them.
True in some cases, but not as it pertains to the PCM connectors. Both PCM connectors use the same colors i.e dark blue, red, yellow, etc. The only way to be certain is to use a DMM, with the schematics, to check continuity between each individual wire, and it's respective sensor, location, etc.

If the PCM and connectors were ripped away, I would not trust the integrity of the balance of the harness. Even wires that appear to be intact may have stretched, and the wire broken inside. I would purchase a new(or used) PCM and wiring harness for this car.

Good luck, in a collision like this, it will be an electrical nightmare.
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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 07:32 PM
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What is a DMM? I don't know a lot about electrical stuff. I should clarify that the actual connectors were NOT ripped off, they were damaged and about 1/3 of the wires were ripped out of the connectors. I would like to get a new or used harness but they seem to be very hard to come by. Anyone know where I could get a used harness? Does it matter what year, transmission, coupe, conv. zo6, etc.? What would a used one cost versus a new one. Thanks for your help

Last edited by tc02vette; Aug 14, 2009 at 07:37 PM.
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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 07:46 PM
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Originally Posted by tc02vette
What is a DMM? I don't know a lot about electrical stuff. I should clarify that the actual connectors were NOT ripped off, they were damaged and about 1/3 of the wires were ripped out of the connectors. I would like to get a new or used harness but they seem to be very hard to come by. Anyone know where I could get a used harness? Does it matter what year, transmission, coupe, conv. zo6, etc.? What would a used one cost versus a new one. Thanks for your help
I can't speak to the cost, but there is a difference between years, and if you have an auto/man trans.

A DMM is a digital multimeter. If you do not know a lot about electrical stuff, you might consider parting out, or selling this car as is. Vettes in front end collisions (especially the PCM/TAC side) are just bound to be a hornets nest.
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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 08:17 PM
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Guess I'll have to bite the bullet and get a new harness from the dealer I've waited too long for another corvette and I'm not going to let this one go. It has every option you can think of and its torch red with a black top. Thanks
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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 08:44 PM
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It would help to post some pics. It is not clear if the module was "ripped off" by a very hard passenger side hit. Or was it "ripped off" by someone who stole it and clipped the wires cleanly for you to work with.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but if he buys a new harness from the dealer it means rewiring most of the car with new wires??? Maybe get a quote from the dealer to simply change the PCM and let them figure out the wires.
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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 09:26 PM
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Disregarding physical damage, the wiring should not be an impossible job. My opinion is you need to recruit some help, needs to be someone who knows and understands Multimeters and Schematics. Take a look at this little project, it a 3800 Engine, 440-T4 Transmissiom, from a full size Oldsmobile, going into a 1988 Fiero GT. It's just a hobby of mine. Every wire you see to the ECM (and then some) had to be rewired to make the engine run as original, and make all the Fiero instruments work. Yes, I know the C5 electronics are a lot more complicated than a 1988 Fiero, but tracing wires, splicing and repairing is still the same, when done correctly.

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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by tc02vette
What is a DMM? I don't know a lot about electrical stuff. I should clarify that the actual connectors were NOT ripped off, they were damaged and about 1/3 of the wires were ripped out of the connectors. I would like to get a new or used harness but they seem to be very hard to come by. Anyone know where I could get a used harness? Does it matter what year, transmission, coupe, conv. zo6, etc.? What would a used one cost versus a new one. Thanks for your help
If your not good with electronics, this is going to be PAINFUL and COSTLY for you. A new wiring harness will cost you BIG and the troubleshooting will make you crazy if you can't wade through a schematic. Hope you got the car CHEAP, get ready for the FUN.
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 03:31 PM
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The wires were clipped off clean. There is about a foot of wire coming out of the car. What do you think a shop would charge to figure out the wiring because I really don't want to do it. Plus, I'M COLOR BLIND!!! I have a plug off a different gm vehicle that I have rewired so that all the wires are in the same place as the plug that came off the car. The computer part# is 12200411 which happens to be the same as a lot of other gm vehicles. I know the colors on their harness will be different but as long as they're in the right spot they should be able to figure it out by looking at the wiring diagram that they gave me. So the plug I have rewired will plug into the new computer I ordered. I just need someone to match up the wires. Any ideas on cost at $65/HR?

Last edited by tc02vette; Aug 15, 2009 at 03:44 PM.
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 04:13 PM
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Originally Posted by tc02vette
I know the colors on their harness will be different but as long as they're in the right spot they should be able to figure it out by looking at the wiring diagram that they gave me.
Not exactly. If you have a bundle of wires, and four of them are dark blue , and all the same gauge, how do you know what system they are associated with just by looking at the schematic? You will have to use a DMM to isolate, and appropriately mark each wire so they can be reterminated to the correct connector.
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 04:24 PM
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Originally Posted by lucky131969
Not exactly. If you have a bundle of wires, and four of them are dark blue , and all the same gauge, how do you know what system they are associated with just by looking at the schematic? You will have to use a DMM to isolate, and appropriately mark each wire so they can be reterminated to the correct connector.
tc02vette, Lucky is exactly right!!!!!!!!
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 05:08 PM
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But they would have the tools to do it, right? Any guess what they would charge at $65 an hour?
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 05:23 PM
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Get a new harness from a wrecked car.


Originally Posted by tc02vette
But they would have the tools to do it, right? Any guess what they would charge at $65 an hour?
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 05:25 PM
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Originally Posted by tc02vette
But they would have the tools to do it, right? Any guess what they would charge at $65 an hour?
Whose they? $65/hr is cheap by today's standards. Would they have the correct tools? You tell me. No info in your sig....perhaps there is a local forum member who can help you out, or at least make a recommendation on a shop you can trust to do the work.
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 06:00 PM
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You're looking at thousands of dollars of work, if it can even be done.

There are approximately 160 wires, 80 on each of the PCM harnesses. You have no idea of how complicated the task is that need s to be done.

More like a $100 an hour + supplies. It would probably take weeks to sort out the mess

Originally Posted by tc02vette
But they would have the tools to do it, right? Any guess what they would charge at $65 an hour?
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Old Aug 16, 2009 | 08:03 AM
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Wasn't there a thread about a guy changing out an early PCM for a newer one? He took every wire out of the stock connector and replaced them into the new connector. Might look for that to see the pics and maybe contact that forum member for tips on doing it?? Thought for sure it was on this forum, may be on the other one?
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Old Aug 16, 2009 | 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by minitech
Wasn't there a thread about a guy changing out an early PCM for a newer one? He took every wire out of the stock connector and replaced them into the new connector. Might look for that to see the pics and maybe contact that forum member for tips on doing it?? Thought for sure it was on this forum, may be on the other one?
Yes, and he is a seasoned aviation electronics tech:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-corvette.html
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Old Aug 16, 2009 | 09:47 AM
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And his wire ends were not ripped out and he labeled each wire before dis-assembly and then replaced them based on the pin code assignments.

You're missing all of the pins and you have no idea of where the wires belong.


Originally Posted by lucky131969
Yes, and he is a seasoned aviation electronics tech:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-corvette.html
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