Wiring Loom Rear Door

**salmonpole** · 30-01-2011,04:00 PM

Hi,

A typical fault I believe but the wires that run to the rear load door on my Alhambra have started to break. I have tried re-joining some of them. Very difficult and will not last forever.
Is it easy to source and replace the full loom?

Any advice/suggestions gratefully received.

**phil miller** · 30-01-2011,05:36 PM

if it was me id add about 6 ins of new wire so the joins are inside the tailgate and the roof, it will be alot cheaper than a new loom, im not sure how big the loom would be tho

**salmonpole** · 31-01-2011,04:35 PM

Phil,

Thanks for the suggestion. I have now discussed this with an auto electrician, who said this would be VERY difficult due to the lack of play on the wires.

I am trying to source a secondhand loom (new one £233 + VAT!!

) as he said it would be a relatively simple job (for him) to fit.

I suppose if replacing is easy he could take the old one off, repair as you suggest and then put it back on.

Will keep the forum updated for those who will experience this fault at some stage.

**KeithOT** · 31-01-2011,09:05 PM

Originally Posted by salmonpole

Phil,

Thanks for the suggestion. I have now discussed this with an auto electrician, who said this would be VERY difficult due to the lack of play on the wires.

I am trying to source a secondhand loom (new one £233 + VAT!!

) as he said it would be a relatively simple job (for him) to fit.

I suppose if replacing is easy he could take the old one off, repair as you suggest and then put it back on.

Will keep the forum updated for those who will experience this fault at some stage.

I reckon most of us have had or will have or even are having this problem me included although the insulation is cracked mine have not yet broken rubber boot is ripped also.

**kenney** · 31-01-2011,09:25 PM

As phil miller stated repairing the wires is a lot less work than replacing the harness and a hell of a lot cheaper,release the contacts at the rear and you can pull the harness up 30-40cm you can solder in an extension on the wires that are damaged.A new harness must be ordered from the factory,i very much doubt any dealer having one in store

**KeithOT** · 31-01-2011,10:49 PM

I wonder where the failure starts, first indications seem to be the plastic insulation cracking, is this because the material is too 'stiff' to start with & stress cracks after a period of flexing, or is there an interaction either with the atmosphere or between the insulation & the 'rubber' boot or both causing the plasticisers in the insulation to leach out making the insulation brittle. If the insulation is PVC this is a common problem in the presence of certain other plastics materials. Not car related so much but PVC insulated house wiring in contact with expanded polystyrene will suffer from this leaching.
I haven't examined a new harness but it would be interesting to see how flexible it is.

**kenney** · 31-01-2011,10:59 PM

The new harness is identical to the old one,the fault is that the wires move every time you open and close the tailgate,this is a common failure on this type of vehicle

**KeithOT** · 31-01-2011,11:12 PM

Originally Posted by kenney

The new harness is identical to the old one,the fault is that the wires move every time you open and close the tailgate,this is a common failure on this type of vehicle

True but pick the right materials & the wire will survive for many years ie softish insulation & fine multistrand wires helped by designing the way the wires flex we use to do it for military vehicles failure was not an option!