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1stRiot

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Start to run wires inside the Sport for the driving lights. Dropped the inside wheel well on the drivers side. You think for a 4x4 they would incase on the wiring. No wonder there is so much trouble with worn wiring hardness. Wiring exposed to rubbing and the elements. All I'll think about when running through water & snow. j
 

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That's just wrong! I know my Jetta is completely different from my Pat but nothing on the Jetta looks like that, it's all nicely hidden and covered. Now I know why the Pat is the cheapest SUV on the market. Still love it though!
 
How is the "grime" going to get through the wheel well shrouding into the engine compartment? Has anyone with a "Trail Rated" Pat checked to see if the "trail rating" makes a difference as to encased wires?
 
haha.. jeep knew they were giving a lifetime powertrain warranty, and realized they had to make something go out after a few years that wasn't covered!
 
I think you have discovered how they are going to get out of the lifetime warranty. I'll be rebuilding my inner plastic fender shields and wiring before the snow flies. Or sooner. I have a 1/2 mile long clay and gravel driveway. The clay cakes on and promotes rust and corrosion. I see some missing paint/under coating back there as well.

Several ounces of prevention are needed here.

Thanks for the heads up and photos!
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
There a few gaps 1/2" or large that could be closed up on fender well.. I'm trying to think of an easy way to protect wires. I wonder if undercoating would kill warranty? sure won't make for a happy service mechanic. Any ideas.
 
There a few gaps 1/2" or large that could be closed up on fender well.. I'm trying to think of an easy way to protect wires. I wonder if undercoating would kill warranty? sure won't make for a happy service mechanic. Any ideas.
Are you talking about the foils near the rear of the liners? I figure those are there so that any air that goes through the engine compartment and into the area above the wheel liner has some place to go but that was just a quick guess when looking at it. I've had my liners off a few times as well but don't see how anything could get up inside there. I'm honestly not worried about it but it also doesn't snow here and barely rains.
 
Tape your wires good so that when water gets in (and it will) the tape will hold it in and keep it wet much longer. The insulation on the wires will protect it. the only places that really need protected are splices. and from what I have seen on my Pat the splices are well sealed. If however you tape the entire harness it is near impossible to seal it all and water will get in and be held in increasing the chance of moisture and corrosive material getting into the splices and damaging the connections. Just my opinion based on over 40+ years of working on electronic/electro-mechanical equipment.
 
Start to run wires inside the Sport for the driving lights. Dropped the inside wheel well on the drivers side. You think for a 4x4 they would incase on the wiring. No wonder there is so much trouble with worn wiring hardness. Wiring exposed to rubbing and the elements. All I'll think about when running through water & snow. j
Send this to Chrysler.
They need to see this !!
 
You guys are overreacting. There are wire bundles like this all through my wrangler and it is 11 years old, lives in teh snow belt, and has been beaten on offroad for years...not one electrical issue. Wires are insulated for a reason, and insulation doesnt corrode.

Hell you will find wires like this in even the most high end car of you remove protective panels to look at em.
 
There a few gaps 1/2" or large that could be closed up on fender well.. I'm trying to think of an easy way to protect wires. I wonder if undercoating would kill warranty? sure won't make for a happy service mechanic. Any ideas.
I've been eying those gaps and holes too in the fender wells. With that corrosive clay I mentioned, I'm very interested in keeping that stuff out from behind there.

I'm going to run a new layer of plastic loom over my wiring when I look into this.

Once again......this is nothing new. The wiring on my CJ runs along, and inside the rear fender well right behind the wheel. Then all the wires major junction area is behind the wheel near the bumper where snow and ice fly up and hang on them all winter. The CJ is 25 years old and, oddly enough, I have never had any problems with that wiring.
 
Tape your wires good so that when water gets in (and it will) the tape will hold it in and keep it wet much longer. The insulation on the wires will protect it. the only places that really need protected are splices. and from what I have seen on my Pat the splices are well sealed. If however you tape the entire harness it is near impossible to seal it all and water will get in and be held in increasing the chance of moisture and corrosive material getting into the splices and damaging the connections. Just my opinion based on over 40+ years of working on electronic/electro-mechanical equipment.
I know I suggested loom. But now that you mention it I have taken cars apart and found the loom packed solid with dried silt and mud. You really have to take a large number of factors into consideration. Protecting the wires from wear against a surface that will fatigue the insulation is really the only thing that needs attention. Newer wiring has much harder and better insulation too.

I think our over protective society might be to blame here. The belief that wires that could possibly be anywhere near water is going to kill you, has been a talking point for years from the safety nazis.
 
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