School me: automotive wire terminals

[ajchien]

Ok, something I haven’t figured out yet... I’m looking to start a little automotive wiring project.

I see aftermarket metripack and weatherpack wire terminals. Are these interchangeable with each other as well as able to fit into factory automotive (Honda) wire connectors? Or do weatherpack terminals only fit into weatherpack connectors etc?

Thanks

 

[joe_padavano]

Metripack and Weatherpack are GM-proprietary terminal systems that don't even interchange with each other, let alone non-GM vehicles. Some other automakers have used them. Honda isn't one of them.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

For Honda, or any vehicle, try https://connectorexperts.com/. You can specify make, model and year and it will show you all the terminals and connectors for that vehicle.

 

[dogdog]

For Honda, or any vehicle, try https://connectorexperts.com/. You can specify make, model and year and it will show you all the terminals and connectors for that vehicle.

Holly snits.... $85 for a connector... that is crazy money there.

https://connectorexperts.com/i-26265989-intake-manifold-pressure-sensor-map.html

 

[slow]

What connectors do you need and what kind of project? There are many types of connectors. Weatherpack are round and Metripack are rectangle, so none are compatible with eachother. Weatherpack is old stuff, first made in the 70's with metripack in the 90s.

Fortunately the Packard/Delphi now Aptiv stuff is easy to get and fairly cheap. The other brands, are harder to find and many are proprietary to a manufacture. I use ballengermotorsports.com for some odd parts, but purchase much of my Delphi/Aptiv from Mouser, Waytekwire and TTiinc depending on pricing. It seems Mouser has the largest selection, but a little higher price than the others. Waytek has a few skus, but it is cheaper than Mouser and TTI when I am purchasing full package quantity, much cheaper than the others, but I am typically purchasing 1000-5000 pieces at a time.

 

[bwringer]

This guy lives in Japan and sells quite a few of the connectors used in Japanese brand motorcycles and cars.
https://easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Products/Connectors/connectors.html

 

[dcg9381]

For custom stuff that I want to do a good job at, I exclusively use Weatherpack connectors... Usually soldering the pins.

 

[zmotorsports]

For custom stuff that I want to do a good job at, I exclusively use Weatherpack connectors... Usually soldering the pins.

You'll want to be somewhat careful soldering connectors that are meant to be crimped. The solder will infiltrate the wire strands and create a more rigid connection which can result in premature failure of the connection.

I too prefer to solder in most all wiring situations but when a connection is designed to be crimped I crimp the connection for this reason. Just be certain to use quality crimping tools vs. cheap or the wrong type of crimper altogether. Most of the times the crimped connections that I've seen fail were due to the wrong type of crimper being used.

 

[slow]

Agreed, also make sure the solder does not flow up the connector and cause an issue with pin seating or contact.

The generic $30 crimp tools are not that great, the specific $80-120 "repair" tools are a little better, but not when you compare the crimp charts and start measuring height and width. I use the Rennsteig production crimp tools for the Metripack, Delphi GT connectors, when these are used, you can see how much tighter of a crimp is made compared to the other tools I have used. Unfortunately they are $150 a crimper, without a die set, and diesets are around $260-280.

 

[stonesfan68]

What I don’t understand is why there are literally thousands of different connectors for automotive wiring applications. I mean do we really need 100 different ways of connecting three wires together?

 

[Falcon67]

For custom stuff that I want to do a good job at, I exclusively use Weatherpack connectors... Usually soldering the pins.

I use Weatherpack on the race cars where possible. I just use a hand crimper. Solder connections don't last on race cars when exposed to extreme vibration. I use Weatherpack on the hard tail dragster which is the Webster's definition of "extreme vibration" LOL and have not had any failures.

 

[rlitman]

What I don’t understand is why there are literally thousands of different connectors for automotive wiring applications. I mean do we really need 100 different ways of connecting three wires together?

Of course with electrical connectors, there are other reasons to have multiple standards. They prevent plugging devices into the wrong place for example.

 

[Falcon67]

Truth ^

 

[slow]

There are some standard connectors such as uscar

https://www.uscar.org/guest/teams/10/Electrical-Wiring-Component-Applications-Partnership-EWCAP-

But many proprietary ones are commonly used

 

[Evilunclegrimace]

Metripack and Weatherpack are GM-proprietary terminal systems that don't even interchange with each other, let alone non-GM vehicles. Some other automakers have used them. Honda isn't one of them.

Navistar also uses Metripack terminals as does Detroit Diesel.

 

[slow]

Many oems use the metripack, Delphi (now aptiv) GT series as well. When you get to items like bulbs they start to get.common across oems but body harness and module connectivity is nowhere close to a standard.

 

[MikeF2316]

Holly snits.... $85 for a connector... that is crazy money there.

https://connectorexperts.com/i-26265989-intake-manifold-pressure-sensor-map.html

I'm very **** about getting the correct connector, but no way would I pay that much. That baby would be coming off a junkyard harness!

To the OP: You might think of getting your connectors from a junkyard harness. If you want a small quantity, the dealer would be able to supply them, probably a lot less than $80!

 

[SGKent]

Many of those specialty connectors use special tools to crimp, insert and remove the pins. A friend used to make the tools for the manufacturers.

 

[joe_padavano]

What I don’t understand is why there are literally thousands of different connectors for automotive wiring applications. I mean do we really need 100 different ways of connecting three wires together?

The reason is that automakers do enough volume that it is cost effective for them to develop their own connectors that best fit with their assembly line processes and equipment. GM doesn't give a rat's patootie about how Honda builds cars, and vice versa. All each one cares about is the lowest cost method to produce their particular models. In GM's case, they primarily used the Packard 56 style connectors through the mid-1908s. These terminals were robust for easy assembly with low chance of bent pins. Unfortunately they were not environmentally sealed. The advent of computer controls and low-voltage sensor circuits forced automakers to move to environmentally sealed connectors, thus the Weatherpack style. These unfortunately have some limitations on current capacity and ease of assembly. GM then went to the Metripack system, but even that has different size contacts for different current levels and sealed and unsealed versions. Keep in mind that with increasing computer controls, connectors need to have small terminals for space efficiency, but these small terminals can't handle the high current of, say, a headlight circuit. This is why there are different standards.

 

[jwh]

Ford has a downloadable guide of their connectors.

It's on motorcraft.com.

Go to "Our products"
Scroll down to wiring & pigtails.

Was going to put on here as .pdf attachment but too big.

John