tech

What You'll Need Anyone who's going to rewire their car, or even perform routine electrical repairs, should invest in the proper tools. You don't need a toolbox full of sophisticated electrical equipment to install a typical aftermarket wiring harness or wire in a new stereo or other electrical accessories. Quality wire strippers, terminal crimpers, a good test light, and soldering gun are the few essentials, and they sure beat the heck out of stripping wire with a penknife (or your teeth), crimping terminals with a pliers, assuming a circuit is live, and soldering with a cigarette lighter.

It's always a good idea to have plenty of terminals and connectors-in a variety of sizes-on hand before starting a wiring job. Some kits supply an abundance, others only a few, but it's always easier to get them ahead of time instead of having to stop your work and run to the parts store. You'll also want to make sure you have a good supply of heat-shrink tubing, solder (if you so choose), and electrical tape. Oh, and you can never have enough zip ties. Trust us on that last one!

There's plenty of literature available on automotive electrical systems if you'd like to do more research. The Web sites and tech lines of the companies in our source box can provide a wealth of information, too. We'd also recommend investing in a repair manual-one with good wiring diagrams-for your particular vehicle. It's not only great for general reference, but can be vital if you're keeping any of your car's original electrical items (switches, ignition components, A/C, etc.).

All things considered, the aftermarket has taken much of the mystery out of re-wiring old cars. That's good, because doing your own wiring not only saves money and provides a sense of accomplishment, it also makes it easier to troubleshoot and make electrical repairs in the future. If you don't believe us, get out in the garage and give it a try. You may not be an electrical expert when you begin, but you may just feel like one by the time you're done.