need help repairing chewed wiring

[Stanley Rockafella]

On my e30, from one particular winter i had a bit of a mouse problem. a few of the wires under the hood were chewed up by mice. At least they didnt' go thru the harness, and only chewed up little bits into the harness.

I'd like to repair thsi damage with patches of wire I got from a wrecked e30 (same color, same guage, etc)

From my understanding, the best way to splice the new wiring into the old harness is to cut out the bad patches, and solder in good wiring and then follow up the patches with a nice and tight shrink tube to seal out as much water and dirt as possible.

Can anyone offer any advise as to what solder I should be using (specs).

Also, is there a better way to make this connection using other methods?

thanks in advance

[AndrewBird]

I'd think twice about soldering if you don't even know what solder to use. Soldering is a skill and takes a lot of practise to do properly.

Buy a good set of crimpers, some uninsulated butt connectors and do it that way. Making a good crimp is very easy, all you have to do is squeeze. Then shrink tube.

I own these crimpers and they are very good. Got them from Lowe's.

http://www.amazon.com/Channellock-909-Crimping-Tool-Cutter/dp/B00004SBDI

I like to use these butt connectors. They come in different gauge ranges. I like to use uninsulated connectors instead of the typical insulated ones because they are about the same diameter as the wire jacketing, which mean no big lumps.

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/31819/A0952-ND/172796

[AndrewBird]

Here is a good comparison of a bad solder joint I found in my can and the crimp I fixed it with.

[Stanley Rockafella]

I thought crimping was garbage...then I saw this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usX9KRhgYnE

and this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdBcPJ7Dtaw

Id also had those crappy non-ratcheting crimpers...now I know I need to throw them out and get some good ones!

[Stanley Rockafella]

what about something like this?

http://www.calcentron.com/Pages/elektralink/elektralink_sealed_solder_splice_kits.php

Seems to take the guesswork out of soldering, and offers the shrink tubing seal as well...

thanks in advance!

[StereoInstaller1]

BMW does not use solder to make wire to wire connections, neither should you.

[Stanley Rockafella]

Finally, the person I was hoping would chime in finally did!

crimping it is then :)

I have some other wiring that's become damaged due to age. Think I'll invest in some good tools and crimps

[Stanley Rockafella]

what guage of crimping would I mostly be using (when stocking up on non-insulated connectors)?

also, anyone know a good place for heat shrink tubing? (online or in store)

thanks in advance

[StereoInstaller1]

Get your connectors and the heat shrink at NAPA