So, I've been chasing gremlins in the wiring harness of my car for the entire time that I've had it, and it's getting ridiculous. I'm about to order a new harness and do this all in one swipe.

A couple of questions; Does the engine harness include the connection to the fan? Is the harness totally terminated or will I have to terminate some sensor clips myself?

Anyone on here done a complete harness?

 

I'm betting the answer is going to be NO.

You may hear "crickets" waiting for another answer.

You might want to cruise the Cobalt forum and see if someones done one over there. Not exactly the same, but you might find some useful info.

 

Thanks for the response. I've spent a couple of hours looking over my harness and I think that I'm just going to order the harness and see how it compares.

I'm a patient enough gear-head to do entire harnesses, but it's just been a long time since I've had to do one. The last harness was a nightmare since the harness was JDM (right-hand drive) and the car was USDM (left-hand drive). The entire thing had to be shortened by 10 inches to fit and half of the pig-tails were terminated in the wrong place by the time that was done. Even if I have to pull the dash to do this one, it's still going to be easier to handle than the last.

My main concern is buying parts from a vendor who isn't an aftermarket specialist. Half the time, you get the wrong parts and it wastes a couple of hours just trying to make heads of what you have/have not.

I'll put together a write-up with pictures covering all of the little details when I get around to doing the work. Closing on a new house in 6 weeks, so I would rather wait so I can do this all in my new garage.

 

The harness on an HHR is just one piece with connectors and securing points. Not a big deal at all. And relatively cheap, around $250. As far as I know everything that is controlled by the ECM/PCM is connected to the harness. "After-Market" harness????, never heard of one.

What is the actual problem? Usually it is just a pin on the ECM connector bent, or the harness laying on the exhaust. Why are you looking for a magic ticket?

 

I didn't mean aftermarket harness. I meant that I have to buy this from the dealer who knows what's typed on the screen. A local shop who specializes would know more hands-on about the part that I'm ordering.

The problem, immediately, is that my fan won't stay plugged in from the harness to the regulator because the retention clip is broken on the harness. There is also some crappy wiring on a little bit of everything under the hood. I can tell that there was a fan controller wired in from the previous owner and they had to splice a wire in when they removed it. The wiring is just, overall, in poor shape on the main harness.

Magic ticket??

?

It looks pretty simple to me, so I'm just going to make a run at it. I'm not too bad under the hood of a car, but this is my first time tinkering with a car since I sold my RX7 3 years ago. Not much has changed. I have a domestic now that has cheap parts and is FWD.

 

My question came from your lack of specifics. I still don't know why you want a new harness. The SS has a fan controller integral to the fan assembly.

Anyway, look online at for instance GmPartsoutlet.net, usually online prices are 30% or so cheaper than brick&mortar prices, some offer free shipping.

I remember seeing new engine harnesses for around $230, but, I wasn't looking for one. You give them the VIN they give you the correct part, as far as I know there is only LT/LS and SS, maybe the years are different probably not.

 

I understand that the fan controller is integrated. That's the clip that's broken. If you have an ss, go outside and break the clip off of the harness and damage it to the point where you couldn't possibly repair it. That's where I'm at.

The harness is screwed. You can drive to Houston and take a look yourself.

 

Anyone know if they make just the pigtails? and solder them in?

 

If I remember and have some time tonight, I may check Mitchell for the P/N. Almost all of the connectors are at least illustrated in the parts books diagrams.

 

Gmpartsdirect lists auto trans for $224, manual $147.