I took some photos but realised I've left my phone cable at work so can't put them up till monday. But basically what we are looking at is a cable behind the drivers seat that come out of the top of the panel where the red switch is and then goes back into the side of the hard top, it has no break in it that I can see. Am I looking in the right place??

Thanks all
Was looking forward to getting the top down this weekend
xS

Mechelle will be easy enough to cut the cable and add connectors so you can plug it in next time, so that's not a worrying issue.

Hi Alan
Thanks
I will post the pictures before I cut anything just to make sure I'm doing the right thing. Is it as simple as cutting through it with scissors?

I'm just absolutely sick and tired of shoddy and lazy workmanship at the moment. If its not stuff on the house its the car!
xS

As Alan said its not a big job you can just pick up a connector at Halfords. Just check the connetor can run with the current load.

5 mins job Shel, you will need some of these once you have cut the wire.......

LittleRedB said:

5 mins job Shel, you will need some of these once you have cut the wire.......

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Tut tut Lee that's cowboy stuff mate.

Mechelle don't cut both wires at once or you'll cause a short and maybe will blow a fuse or maybe even burn your hand take the outer shielding off then cut one wire at a time. Or disconnect the battery first.

Re the connectors you can get some good ones from model shops that connect between radio controlled cars and batteries they come with clips that will be easy to use in future. If you want I can solder you some on next time you are up this way. Or send you a clip that will connect well as well as being able to take the current.

Um, I was trying to get across the general idea!! Didn't look closely at the fact they are not shielded!!

LittleRedB said:

Um, I was trying to get across the general idea!!

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I'll let you of then

if you want to be on the safe side.. always disconnect battery first before cutting any wire. You might still cause short by accident even if you are not cutting both at the same time.

But have a good look... it might be that they have ticked the connector away inside some crevice in the bulkhead.

There should also a be a "dummy" plug/socket (actually some plastic holder) on the buldhead somewhere (hidden by safetybelt) where you can "plug-in" the connector when the hardtop is not on/connected

RnRollie said:

if you want to be on the safe side.. always disconnect battery first before cutting any wire. You might still cause short by accident even if you are not cutting both at the same time.

But have a good look... it might be that they have ticked the connector away inside some crevice in the bulkhead.

There should also a be a "dummy" plug/socket (actually some plastic holder) on the buldhead somewhere (hidden by safetybelt) where you can "plug-in" the connector when the hardtop is not on/connected

Click to expand...

This is what I'm wondering. I don't want to get the scissors out and then find that they have done it but it's somewhere I can't see! Here is a pic. I'm going to get my boss to have a look in a bit and see if he can see anything.


xS

I thought the same ,that the connector was on the rear bulkhead unless they moved it on the Mk2? it certainly seems a stupid place to put the wiring as it is possible to get nipped by the folding roof frame.

I have a feeling that is an after thought and not Fiat's wiring, possibly after the wiring was damaged they have shortened the wiring and therefore had to route it up through that plastic piller so it would reach?

RnRollie said:

if you want to be on the safe side.. always disconnect battery first before cutting any wire. You might still cause short by accident even if you are not cutting both at the same time.

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You are of course completely correct, please excuse my health and safety ommission.

I think you are right Alan. The original wiring that melted was behind the seat, and not inside that pillar. And there is a little holder stuck behind that seat that is empty. I think they have done this to make it reach. There is no play in the cable whatsover. T*ssers! With no play in the cable am I still ok to go ahead and cut it ?
xS

Shelxs said:

This is what I'm wondering. I don't want to get the scissors out and then find that they have done it but it's somewhere I can't see! Here is a pic. I'm going to get my boss to have a look in a bit and see if he can see anything.

xS

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whats that whitish thing i see on that ribbed wire protector?
If might be the connector, and they might have clipped or glued it in place.
It looks like it is clipped behind the plastic pillar thing
some a-wigglin' and a-nigglin' might be in order

Right I'm off for some wigglin - will report back shortly!
xS

I'm back. Keith my boss took the panel off and there is definitly no connector. I think he can put a connector on for me but I'm worried about where it should go now Alan has mentioned it interfering with the soft top mechanism.

Can someone post a picture of what the hardtop cable set up looks like if it is done properly? (I guess this might be difficult as you will all have them off by now!) I think if he has something to look at as a guide it will make it easier.

Thanks all
xS

cant really help there.. mine has a melted connector from a short
(it wasn't me who did that)
When i'll fix it.. after summer, i'll cut it short, add a new lenght of wire and tape/stick it to the bulbhead BEHIND the vinyl bulbhead covering, and let it protrude through from behind near where the holder sits. The wire dangling from the hardtop should be long enough to reach, and if it doesn't, ill extend that one also, and tape it up something decent, not with the greased cloth that has it wrapped now.

for your case, a connector and some velcro to safeguard it against the bulkhead somewhere maybe ?

Mechelle you said that the melting came from under the seat so check under the seat to see if they have placed the connector there before cutting, if no joy there is no problem in cutting it just make sure the ends of the two wires are well insulated and you can then put the cable where you want even under the seat for now, once cut I would take it out of the pillar area. There is only a slim chance that the cable will get nipped but that also means that there is a chance.

If you get someone to fit a connector for you make sure they solder the wiring and heatshrink the join, anyone used to soldering wiring will have heatshrink.

Thanks all for you help. I must admit I'm still confused. There is a cable with a connector under the seat that comes from the fornt but I thought that was something else (abs?). It's absolutely peeing it down this morning so I'm just going to forget about it for now!
xS

god! this reminded me of my broken hardtop caliper. I can pray for a long summer and fall

Shelxs said:

Thanks all for you help. I must admit I'm still confused. There is a cable with a connector under the seat that comes from the fornt but I thought that was something else (abs?). It's absolutely peeing it down this morning so I'm just going to forget about it for now!
xS

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The connector you are referring to is the airbag sensor for god sake don't unplug that without the battery connected. Just thought if the wire melted under the seat they may have replaced the connector there, long shot but worth a try.