|
|
Wiring colors and adding an overhead computer
|
|
|
| |
|
|
ScubaSteve
New User
Jul 28, 2012, 12:03 AM
Post #1 of 6
(1941 views)
|
|
Wiring colors and adding an overhead computer
|
Sign In
|
|
I've been making periodic changes to the interior of my truck and have done minor electrical things from time to time, and I'm curious to know something about automobile wiring. Excluding aftermarket / DIY changes, will a wire of a specific color and pattern always be used for the exact same thing as another wire of the same color and pattern? Will two visually identical wires ever be used for completely different purposes?
For example, say I have an orange wire with a blue stripe and it's only hot when the AC is on when the lights are on, and then I find another orange wire with a blue stripe. Would it be safe to assume that this wire would only be hot under the same situations as the other? This is not a real example: I just wanted to create a unique scenario.
The reason this has come up is because I have a plain overhead console and found an identical one with a computer display (it shows the MPG, temp, etc) and I want to connect it. I grabbed some of the wiring, but since my truck was not wired for an overhead computer I assume I will have to track down these wires somewhere else and I'm hoping the color coding will help. Also, I plan to do more of these kinds of projects and I'm curious to know for future reference.
Dodge Dakota - 2002
Club Cab configuration
Sport package
3.9l V6, Automatic, 4x2
135K miles as of July 2012
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 28, 2012, 3:05 AM
Post #2 of 6
(1894 views)
|
|
Re: Wiring colors and adding an overhead computer
|
Sign In
|
|
You're going to get yourself in a lot of trouble thinking that way. Although some manufacturers will standardize some colors like red for power supply and black for ground, that's about as far as it goes. Certain functions use standard colors on GM like purple for the starter trigger and gas gauge, gray for fuel pump feed, brown for running lights, don't expect to wire anything using your method, especially when you start looking for computer related wires as used with that trip computer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
ScubaSteve
New User
Jul 28, 2012, 7:04 AM
Post #3 of 6
(1879 views)
|
|
Re: Wiring colors and adding an overhead computer
|
Sign In
|
|
OK thanks, that's disappointing but ultimately not surprising.
BTW: I swear I put this into the wiring and electrical category so I'm surprised that it is in the Engine and Car Noises section.
Dodge Dakota - 2002
Club Cab configuration
Sport package
3.9l V6, Automatic, 4x2
135K miles as of July 2012
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 28, 2012, 7:28 AM
Post #4 of 6
(1874 views)
|
|
Re: Wiring colors and adding an overhead computer
|
Sign In
|
|
ScubaSteve: IDK how it got here but doesn't matter now. Many watch everything.
Note on wiring colors. Watch out! Vehicles tons older than this you could still get in trouble. Toys/items your truck didn't have found now in another don't mean wiring is waiting to just plug things in. Yup - before time (been there) cars with no options used one harness and voila the wires were there for some things but I think we can forget what was done in the early 60's now when cost efficient to make one harness than to save making one size for whatever a vehicle would end up as.
Going on two years with a GM truck of my own to find a junkyard headlight plug with same wire colors as an original with no luck. All OE but wired for a snow plow set up that didn't involve this exactly. Simple sealed beam, three prong plug and have a new replacement in front of me but is universal and under gauge IMO (feeds both headlights) and all wires are black! Made in China dammit and really don't want to solder that one in just yet.
HT already said it that this is troublesome and more-so if you are trusting wiring by color only unless well diagrammed as to what it is for,
T
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 28, 2012, 8:57 AM
Post #5 of 6
(1860 views)
|
|
Re: Wiring colors and adding an overhead computer
|
Sign In
|
|
Wiring color is not as important as pin numbers. I say this because sometimes you might get an electrical problem and find that either the factory had inadvertently switched wires around or someone did a rewire with a different color. Sometime wires may be one color after a connector and a different color before. It's more important that the connector pin to pin numbers are correct.
When I was in the service working on B1 weapon systems all the wires were white. You might have a harness as thick as your wrist full of white wires. That goes to show how important connector pin numbers are.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jul 28, 2012, 9:08 AM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 28, 2012, 10:05 AM
Post #6 of 6
(1843 views)
|
|
Re: Wiring colors and adding an overhead computer
|
Sign In
|
|
Hey, that's my entertainment system.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
2006 Toyoto Camry XLE Driver Side Electric Window Trouble
Tierod end change caused some kind of leak
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
equipment
Howdy
