Thread: Wiring Splicing Tips? Solder vs Butt Connector

Hey,

I'm putting my turbo car together and wanted some advice as to where you should use soldering and where you can use butt connectors. I see there's also butt connectors that have solder built into it.

I can understand soldering for the fuel injectors, but how about random sensors? Do those need soldering or will a crimp from a standard butt connector and some heat shrink wrapping do the trick?

Also, anyone ever use the butt connectors w/solder built in?

Thanks!

I always say if it's inside the engine bay it gets a crimp connection (no solder). If it's not inside the engine bay it gets solder.

FYI: The factory Nissan harness has 10-20 crimp connections in it to begin with.

hmm interesting. If that's true it'd be a lot easier! I really don't look forward to soldering everything(besides never soldering before), but I have crimped a bunch of stuff so I'm pretty good at that.

So would you crimp the fuel injector harness too?

As far as sensors, I always solder, considering many of them work off voltage difference. The lowest resistance on the wire possible is the best. I've had too many issues with crimp connections where they added a little resistance to the wire, causing the ECU to see incorrect values from that sensor.

If it's not a sensor wire, though, I suppose you could crimp it. Soldering is just so easy and so much more reliable, it's the only method I use personally.

I personally prefer to solder on most things also. I crimp on unimportant things. For me it has nothing to do with in the engine compartment or not. If the soldering is done correctly, you will have no issues whether or not it is in the engine compartment.

I also solder everything followed by heat shrink. If you tape the whole harness after that you have a solid connection and little to no flex so your connection will last. If you do use a butt connector get the ones that heat shrink then heat shrink over that, but soldering is the best connection hands down.

I with ben no solder in the engine bay. Solder points are way more prone to vibration related stress failure and metal fatigue.

Not when done correctly and heat shrinked. Most people do not know how to solder correctly. When you have cold solder joints, you have vibration related stress and metal fatigue.

I know how to do it properly and I still do not solder in the engine bay western union like this

Connection options, splicing wires and how to do it right, and WRONG!

Yes I would. And I have.