How to Identify Faulty Wiring Harness?

Understand the Basic Role of Wiring Harness First

Before figuring out how to diagnose a problem with a wiring harness, the first thing is to understand what a wiring harness is. A wiring harness in laymen’s terms can be compared to a “nerve system” in most devices, and more so in a car and industrial equipment. It interconnects different components ensuring there is electricity and signals flowing to and fro without hindrance. An example would be, OBD cables used in car diagnostics, the efficiency of the OBD cables is directly dependent on the efficiency of the wiring harness used to transmit signals. A high-quality OBD Cable can only function optimally if the wiring harness is in good condition. Therefore, it is essential you understand the defect in it.

Check for Scratches or Other Visible Damage to the Outside Layer of the Wrap.

The easiest way to identify a malfunctioning wiring harness is to locate damage to the wiring harness. Begin with the covering for the wiring harness. If you notice burnt areas covering the wiring or any signs of cracking or distortion, that is a serious concern. This may allow moisture or other contaminants access to the wires, resulting in corrosion and damage to the wiring harness. For any diagnostic equipment connected to a vehicle, wiring harnesses associated with the OBD may become damaged. Inspect the connection ports for any signs of wear or bending. A poorly connected or defective OBD cable will produce inaccurate readings, resulting in a loss of information. Additionally, temporary storage of a vehicle may result in wires becoming the target of animals. See if the wiring harness has any features that look like they were bitten, as that chewed areas are one of the dominant signs of a rodent infestation.

Problems Related to Power and Signals

The next step is to test for power and signal problems if there is no clear physical damage. For phone-related wiring harnesses, and related devices, use an OBD tool and compatible OBD Cable. Insert the tool into the OBD port and determine whether there is a signal. If the tool does not connect or shows bizarre error codes, the wiring harness associated with the OBD port may have problems. For other wiring harnesses, use a multimeter. If power is not flowing through the wires, or if the power level is inconsistent, the wiring harness could have a broken wire, or a bad connection somewhere.

Note any device issues that may serve as warning signs.

Devices behave strangely due to wants and needs that stems from poor wiring harnesses. In automobiles, dashboard lights may flicker, the engine may sputter, and power windows may function inadequately, if at all. All of these issues come from a wiring harness malfunction. In industrial machinery, a lack of efficiency or a sudden pause in the workings of the machine can all stem from the same issue. While using OBD tools, if reading the data and producing results takes times, or if results are inaccurate, and the OBD Cable is new, there is a higher possibility that the wiring harness is faulty or damaged. Every device issue mentioned above results from a malfunctioning wiring harness, which serves as the root cause and is the wiring harness connected to the OBD port and the car's internal systems.

Wear and tear and the environment should be considered before Installing or before the use of Wiring Harness assembly.

Each and every component has a certain life span, more so, the wiring assemblies life span is highly susceptible to environmental factors. The wearing and corrosion of the wire and its insulating cover due to exposure to extreme temperatures like hot summer or harsh winter, moisture levels or even severing chemical exposure, breakdowns is gradual. Think about the wiring assemblys the reside under the bonnet, the exposure to the hot elements of the engine and then the wet component of the system and the subsequenting of the wiring assemblies in the summer or winter, this makes the assembly highly susceptible to failure. Even legally certified and approved wiring assembly systems, which is manufactured under the most stringent of circumstances and systems gets none or very little attention effortlessly, the inner workings are then susceptible to wear and tear and ultimate failure. The reliabilty on a device or a vehicle, its harsh operational environment, correlates very well to the deteriorating state of harness wires. One of the most important and effective way to prolong the use, its life span and its reliability is by documenting the extent the operational environment wire harnesses in exposed to.

When It's Time to Seek Professional Assistance

In the event the wires and cables aren’t broken but rather confused, I have power and signal functionality, and alongside other documented performance issues, then maybe they need to call for some professionals. They have unique wiring harnesses testing equipment specialists that analyze and garages where the wires may have been improperly soldered. In addition, they will know if it is only the wiring harness that is broken or there is something else that is problematic, such as a bad to no signal OBD Cable. With regards to the intricate systems centered around devices such as automobiles or industrial machines, it would be a disaster to attempt and carry out a DIY for the wiring harness. They would also provide you with accessories such as wiring harnesses for automobiles that could be custom made for your devices.