February_2022 - 47

for repairing wiring harnesses could cover
a few articles themselves, so we'll focus on
what is most important to those evaluating
harness damage in hybrid and EVs, including
those in body shops.
A search through service information
will yield the manufacturer's recommendations
and procedures for wiring harness
repair and should always be consulted.
That being said, the general rule across all
OEMs is that any damaged HV (such as
your orange cables) wiring or connectors
should be replaced, not repaired.
Any wiring damage must be looked
at in terms of location, level of damage,
ability to repair, and availability of parts
(something that has become an increasing
concern with supply chain shortages).
Presently, a harness repair may be the only
option to promptly get a vehicle back on
the road, as many parts, including harnesses
and connectors, are on indefinite
backorder. This can call for some creativity
and knowing where to source components
such as connectors and terminals other
than the dealer or local parts warehouses.
Regarding lower voltage components
(those under 50V), standard best practices
for wiring repair and terminal or connector
replacements still apply. Ensure there is
enough flexibility in the repaired section,
that the solder joints or crimps are correctly
made and insulated, and the wires
are in otherwise good condition. Having
an assortment of crimping and de-pinning
tools is a must in this case (Figure 4).
For those just getting started in wire
harness repairs, I recommend taking a trip
to your local wrecking yard and acquiring
some old harness sections. Take your
time learning to de-pin the connections
(Figure 5), prep wires, and perform proper
crimping and soldering. The effort you put
into this will more than pay for itself as you
find yourself able to perform wiring repairs
more efficiently.
The automotive world is changing rapidly,
and the best way to succeed is to continue
your education and the development
of both your tools and techniques. Each
shop and technician will differ on the level
of education and tooling needed. Still, all
should develop and maintain a baseline
competency with evolving technology to
provide the best service possible to their
customers.
CHRIS GROFF is a technician
with lykon automotive in
pennsylvania and runs
the science of diagnostics
channel on youtube. groff
began in the industry 15 years ago with an
independent repair shop before attending
the pennsylvania college of technology for
caterpillar diesel. after working with heavy
duty trucks and john deere equipment,
he was drawn back to the automotive
repair segment by adas and the continued
advancement of technology.
cgroff@scienceofdiagnostics.com
OTC
HYBRID ELECTRIC
SAFETY GLOVES
102
Redline
Detection
EV BATTERY +
COOLANT LEAK
DETECTOR
104
KNIPEX Tools
INSULATED
SCREWDRIVERS
103
Lang Tools
CAT IV DIGITAL
MULTIMETER
105
www.VehicleServicePros.com FEBRUARY 2022 PROFESSIONAL TOOL & EQUIPMENT NEWS 47
http://www.VehicleServicePros.com http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
February_2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February_2022
