Stock Wiring Gauge Size

[bmwstephen]

Picking up a set of butt connectors because I am motivated to redo a clean wiring job on my car. Typical areas I'm focusing on are Stereo and Alarm. Can someone verify the size gauging of these wires including: 12+, Ignition, Ground, Parking lights, Speaker wires?

I assume I should just stick with red butt connectors 18-24. I noticed my wires to my windows are the really thick ones that require Blue 14-16 in size.

[devon.818]

clean wiring job and butt connectors is an oxymoron sir.

solder+shrink wrap

[bmwstephen]

don't tell luke that =p

[bmwstephen]

bump

[Gregs///M]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrJ5qvTPwDQ

Wow, you are a big help to this forum. (not srs) Hope you get banned.

If you are going to use butt connectors, I would buy the assortment of pink/red, blue, and yellow.

Chances are you won't use the yellows except the ignition switch wires but i would try blue on those before yellow.

I prefer solder and heat shrink because an open crimped connector will oxidize over time and cause increased resistance, thus a poor connection. However, some people in this forum disagree with me on that topic. There was a huge debate over crimp vs solder so you can check that out if your are interested.

[bmwstephen]

i hear ya. regardless its still a good idea for me to know the gauge size of the wires. I need to lengthen some wires because this car has been through a lot of alarms and stereos the point the harness cannot get any shorter

[Gregs///M]

The ETM manual has every wire gauge and color. Its the first number before the wire color but it is in metric. There is a conversion chart in the "how to use this manual" section.

Ignition wires are 12 gauge for sure. The speakers are 18 gauge I think. I would check the ETM for the particular wire you want to extend just to be sure.