Any tips on how to tame this harness?

If the one pictured in the OP is the one you got & paid for from a junkyard or where ever, I personally wouldn't touch that thing unless I had no choice. In that condition you're gonna waste a lot of time figuring out what's wrong with it. If some one pulled it apart like that, that could mean they were looking for something wrong with it or was attempting to modify it or took stuff off of it (used it as a donor).

 

Doesn't matter which generation of Tacoma we have here.... you are talking about harness, not truck type.... @HAVOC is trying to help you on how to work on harness with tape and other stuff to look neat like his photo. He knows what to do.. If you reject his help, then that's your problem.. not his.

 

Thread hijack since OP is on vacation, what would you use for redoing a motorcycle wiring harness?

Something that's going to be exposed to the elements.

 

Anyone ever wonder “why” rodents chew wires? I was told in a electrical training class years ago, that during the manufacturing process of coating the wire with insulation, vegetable oil was used. Either that, or vegetable oil was an ingredient in the insulation itself. In either case, the vegetable oil is what supposedly attracts the rodents. Idk, I don’t manufacture or chew wires.

 

Good thing I didn't tell him I own a 3rd gen......

 

Rodents need to chew to stay alive so their teeth stay sharp and so they don't grow into their skulls and impale their tiny little pin brains so chew they do.

Wires are great to sharpen teeth on because there's just a soft sometimes tasty (Toyota supposedly uses Soy as part of their wire insulation compound) outside and inside are gently abrasive strands perfect for sharpening teeth down quickly with minimal effort and if you get a piece a couple inches long it's great nest building stuff.

Beyond that they're typically attracted to vehicles as they're warm dry and safe from predators.

Sometimes they can even smell food a such that attracts them, in short don't ever leave food trash in your vehicle.

The mice come for the fries under your seat and stay for the delicious wiring harness.

 

Your kind isn't welcome here!











Kidding of course.

 

I read something like that too a while back. Honda actually sells a rodent deterrent electrical tape. It's coated with capsaicin. While I do like spicy/chili peppers, I won't be tasting this stuff if I had some.

It's pretty expensive for a roll, like $40. Not sure if Hondas currently actually use this stuff these days stock. Can't say I've ever noticed electrical tape with the rodents symbols on them on newer Hondas or any vehicle from the factory. No idea if anyone makes similar electrical tape or how effective it actually is.

P/N 4019-2317

https://www.hondapartsnow.com/genuine/honda~tape~rodent~19mm~20m~4019-2317.html

 

Feel like R2 at the moseley bar....

 

Just like any other harness split loom and tape. You want to go even better heat shrink tubing you can get 48"lengths or even heat shrink tape. ( McMaster- Carr is my go to most times) All kind of interesting options

The sections without connectors that might need to come apart.

I am guessing plugs are water resistant . Into bike rides up North in the Winter exposing your harness to liquid brine?

 

The fact OP harness he bought was already all apart does not bode well .

Going to get interesting !

 

Them evil skinny tail rodents chewed through the PVC pipe vent cap and invaded now that the water table dropped several feet.

Chemical weapons have been deployed in a successful campaign so it seems.

It was the Soy in the insulation I agree !

 

I would not use extreme lengths of heatshrink for wire harnesses for things like the engine harness or anywhere else where it may need to flex. There's multiple reason why looms are commonly used. In the interior maybe but then again not really necessary.

TESA tape is great stuff but it's mainly used for abrasion resistance IIRC. But wiring harnesses should be mounted as such where they're not susceptible to constant abrasion, if possible. Some OEMs use it but only in certain areas.

I used to modify/work on a lot of Honda wiring harnesses. If you ever open one up you rearly see any heatshrink if at all & in areas the need to flex they won't be completely wrapped tight in electrical tape or zip tied together tightly. In those areas if wrapped with electrical tape they won't over lap, just wide spaced spirals just to keep it all together if needed.

 

That is the thing so many different types of Heat shrink on the market now days that remain quite flexible .

We are dealing with options . Bikes as well .

 

Yep true that but even with the really flexible heatshrink (I love that stuff but it can be expensive) it's when it shrinks a bundle of wires tightly is the issue. If too tight it can't bend as easy & that's when the wires can start pulling on each other. I've seen it happen a number of times too. The same reason why you don't want to wrap those areas tightly with tape. That's why they just use non shrinking tubing/sleeves in many areas.

 

I have found that even with very stiff dual wall, adhesive lined heat shrink that you can use you heat gun to reheat shrunk sections and it becomes flexible, you can then bend it to the required shape and when it cools and stiffens back up it will retain the shape.

 

I still would use tape to bundle the wires, something like 3M Super 33+, then put the harness in split convoluted tubing. If you use heat shrink. Get the marine type that has sealant inside it.

 

No special tape like Tessa? Just regular Super 33?

 

Hope you just forgot the LOL at the end. Like this, LOL.

Lots of wires gives me anxiety. I've rebuild a few and it's definitely not my cup of tea.