Animal Wiring Damage

Alright, so the wife took the truck to work. Immediately it told her there was an issue with the brakes. Smartly turned around and put it back in the driveway. Today I get out there to final check it out after all of the wind/rain, and noticed a bunch of twigs in the corner near the brake reservoir.

After pulling everything out, I noticed 3 things. Two small areas in the wiring harness with slightly frayed electrical tape, and then the problem. One of the wires was essentially missing going to the pigtail that connects near the reservoir. PICTURE ATTACHED for that one.

I repaired to two small frays pulling back the tape and looking for any wire damage. One wire was knicked so I sealed it and taped it individually, and then retaped the harness.

The pigtail though, is going to be more of a challenge. The wire remaining is a bit short. I have some decent DIY skills both mechanically and electrically so I don't have an issue splicing in a piece except the challenge of the short pigtail.

I'm leaning towards stripping it. soldering on either a wire or a small jumper pin, and then soldering/heatshrinking/taping the replacement. Any other ideas? Order a replacement pigtail maybe if it comes with stubbed wires?

 

Damn rodent didn’t leave you much to work with.

Looks like it is just the one wire?

There seems to be enough left to solder a wire to. Would put a heat sink on the wire to protect the plug. I would also disconnect the battery before repairing.

 

This is what I'm leaning towards. Getting dark and not planning on getting out there today. No need to drive it for a next few days.

I thought about one of those thin wire crimps that are used in electronics, then soldering over it and maybe even using some liquid electrical tape before the heatshrink

Maybe overkill but... worth it I guess.

 

Anyone think it’s possible to just utilize those butt splice connectors with the solder rings and adhesive? Long shot with how short the stub is but damn that would be nice.

also how can I track down a part number of the connector with pigtails if this all goes sideways

 

Maybe Shauna did it...

 

those “solder ring” splices are junk…….or at least they don’t work for me. I’ll send you some if you want to try them. I bought some and couldn’t get them to work for me.

 

Ha I can pick them up locally but thanks for the offer. Depending on when I want to get into this. I will probably just do a self crimp and solder and some adhesive heat shrink I guess.

 

Pick up some and see if you can get them to work. It could be just me

 

While at it, may also fix the other wire also. The animal got a bite outta it also…

 

If you are letting it sit for a few more days, be sure to take precautions so more wires are not damaged between now and then.

 

which one in particular. I got out there just now and pulled off tape. One of the smaller ones was knocked along with the black one. Sheath was damaged but neither wire was severed or cut through. Dab of liquid electrical tape and then tape over if basically all that can be done based on the one without going all out.

 

If you have enough wire to do it, heat shrink crimps will work just fine. I hate those critters!
Cost me just short of a grand to replace the knock sensor harness from those bastards chewing the wires.

 

The rough part is there is only one spot that was chewed through. That’s the wire that is missing. The other spots were all minimal sheathing issues with no frayed or chewed through wires.

I don’t think I will have enough wire on the plug side to use the solder heat shrink connector so old fashioned way is probably the only way.

 

******UPDATE - Closing the loop / thread

I figured I would provide a bit of an update here, this was a bit more of a pain than I anticipated. Either way, end result is no lights, everything works as it should and to the best of my knowledge is protected from the elements and secure.

Couple things I did was make sure I used the liquid electrical tape on ANY knicks to the sheathing of the wire (just a couple). Once dried, I used the silicon tape to protect around the individual wires before re-taping the bundle. The way I see it, three layers of protection and best I could do without having to figure out a way to splice, re-connect, and use marine heat shrink.

Now reattaching that nub that was left was not fun. I was able to strip enough back and twist/solder/heat shrink a wire and basically redo the missing section. Not fun but sealed and good to go for now. That being said, I will continue to figure out a way to de-pin that one from the connector and replace thereby leaving one joint on that wire instead of two.

Anyway, fun??? absolutely not but a bit of a learning experience for me and my son to work through.

 

Here is another thread with ideas on preventing future damage.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/effing-mice.461226/

 

f in squirrel got me ......2 weeks at the dealer and $2500 later for 1 six wire plug and 2 other spots where it just started to chew on a wire......$50 in parts alot of labor$$$$.......now the truck is kept in the garage

 

if it was more hits I would have put it through insurance and dealt with the co-pay but honestly, I just didn't want to deal with the hassle. Teen son will be driving soon, and keeping rates as low as possible is a goal!

 

you're in the wrong era. grab Morty and try again Rick!

 

Always need Goals! But yup understand and fearful on the times to come!