Fix for broken retaining tabs on ECU connectors?

[zin]

Title pretty much sums it up, I picked up a troubled '04 PT GT and this is one if the more compelling issues with it, causes MIL and the car dies and won't restart... imagine that, just because 1/4 of the connections to the ECU are interrupted!

At the moment is seems salvaged connector housings and the transferring of about a billion wires is what it will take... So I'm open to suggestions!

Mike

[Dr. Johny Dodge]

remove screws from it that hold it to the fender

get some zip ties and strap them around the entire module so that they hold the connectors in tightly

or,

clean the connector grease out of the plugs , silicone the connectors in

or yeah , change the connectors - it's really not so tuff to do
I did it simply to install a red woven cable cover over the wireing going to the connectors back when I built my 86 T-Z
- if you go this route you'll be needing a chair 'cause your gonna be there a while

(I missed the PT cruiser bit )

[zin]

Yeah, that's kind of what I expected, do you know if the housing is available as a replacement part? After all that work, it would be incredibly frustrating to have "the new ones" break as well!

Mike

[Dr. Johny Dodge]

honestly I know nuthin about any dodge built after 92 sorry - I lost interest when the say hello to newt and salimander adds started running(neon / sundance)

[shackwrrr]

When I get to work tomorrow ill look up the connectors. Chrysler has them and we replace the all the time for this exact reason.

[zin]

When I get to work tomorrow ill look up the connectors. Chrysler has them and we replace the all the time for this exact reason.

That's great to hear, I've also heard that the sensors that can leave you stranded, cam and crank aren't too expensive from the dealer ($30-40.00 each), so I'll probably pick those up too, just in case. Any other "problem" areas to consider preventative maintenance on?

I've got manuals for the 03, and the 04 seems to be almost the same, but I also am a bit ignorant of the next generation's specific issues, etc. Looks like I'm learning though!

What's got me a little concerned is the Air Bag light being on, after going over the FSM, it seems like there isn't much one can learn without a DBRIII... I have no idea if they are affordable or not or what I should look for in buying one, I'm lucky I can sort of run an OTC 4000!

Any pointers/links would be much appreciated, and probably cut down on the "dumb questions"!

Mike

[shackwrrr]

Forgot that I had shared this site on here already in the connectors sticky but I just looked up your connectors on here:

http://connectors.dcctools.com/

C1 black: 05083222AA
C2 orange: 05083223AA
C3 natural: 05083224AA
C4 orange: 05083225AA

unfortunately they are bit pricey at 92 bucks a pop retail.

Let me know what color one you need and Ill dig through my bin of connectors, ill hook ya up. You'll still need to swap the wires one by one over to the new shell but they are pretty easy.

also if you have a junkyard close by most all dodges after 2003 have the same pcm connectors so one sourced from there would be easy.

[zin]

Thanks! I'll have to check colors, but by location, the first on the left is ok,the rest are busted.

Didn't find anything in the pick-your-parts around here, they were all gone, guess I know why now!

Mike

[RoadWarrior222]

get some zip ties and strap them around the entire module so that they hold the connectors in tightly

That would be my first try.

[zin]

Tried the zip ties right off the bat, great minds thinking alike?! ... but I think the pins opened up a bit due to the ECU not being attached to the bracket, so that stopped working, and I wouldn't be able to live with that for long anyways, I'd never feel it was reliable enough.

Mike

[135sohc]

Forgot that I had shared this site on here already in the connectors sticky but I just looked up your connectors on here:

http://connectors.dcctools.com/

C1 black: 05083222AA
C2 orange: 05083223AA
C3 natural: 05083224AA
C4 orange: 05083225AA

unfortunately they are bit pricey at 92 bucks a pop retail.

Let me know what color one you need and Ill dig through my bin of connectors, ill hook ya up. You'll still need to swap the wires one by one over to the new shell but they are pretty easy.

also if you have a junkyard close by most all dodges after 2003 have the same pcm connectors so one sourced from there would be easy.

Do these come with the appropriate number of new wires and pins already crimped on like the other repair connector kits put out by Mopar?

[shackwrrr]

Do these come with the appropriate number of new wires and pins already crimped on like the other repair connector kits put out by Mopar?

Yes, in 2 sizes plus crimp splices and glue filled heat shrink. My toolbox at work has a whole drawer of spare pins lol.

[zin]

I found a donor at the yard this weekend. I'm swapping pins now, which is a pain, but I think will be better in the long run... so long as i don't get them in the wrong places!

Mike

- - - Updated - - -

... My toolbox at work has a whole drawer of spare pins lol.

They give you just the pins? That could be handy in the future when/if someone wants to build their own harness, devoid of "extras".

Mike

[shackwrrr]

Usually 2 sizes in each kit, one of each size for every hole. And a piece of badass heat shrink for every wire.

[shackwrrr]

Here is the heat shrink if anyone is interested. 3:1 shrink ratio, glue lined.

[zin]

Nice... But I think I found a source for new replacement sockets, I just have to figure out which is the correct one(s).

Look right? http://www.te.com/catalog/pn/en/1473...RQPN=1473416-1
Or one of these? http://www.mouser.com/TE-Connectivit...yvwpe4Z1yvwpb9

Mike

[135sohc]

These were made by Tyco, now TE connectivity.

Internal engineering drawing: PDF file download

The TE Part Number for the terminals is 1456004-1 for 18 gauge wire. These are TE connectivity referred to as "USCAR 1mm" for the family designation.
Cross Referenced to the Connectors thread.

[135sohc]

The Part Numbers for the individual connector shells.

TE p/n 9-1326726-8 Chrysler 'BLACK' connector
TE p/n 9-1326727-8 Chrysler 'ORANGE' connector
TE p/n 9-1326728-8 Chrysler 'NATURAL' connector
TE p/n 9-1326729-8 Chrysler 'GREEN' connector

http://www.mouser.com/TE-Connectivit...Z1ehb5Z1yzmrly

[zin]

Just a quick update. I was able to get the connectors from the junk yard and swap the wires, ail is well now with Regards to the electrical.

Mike

[charger15]

my 03 GT does something similar to yours i have been working on this thing for about 4 days now.all of my retaining clips are broke on mine so i tried the zip tie trick still does the same thing what happens is when i first start the car it will run fine and almost every time start fine but then after running for awhile it will just shut off and when i plug my scanner in it it will not communicate with the pcm and then when i start it up it may or may not communicate. also most of the time it will run pretty rough and loose communication with the scanner while i am watching live data also sometimes the air bag light comes on and when i try to see what the code is there's nothing there.i am beginning to think i need a new pcm but i don't want to spend that kind of money in till i no %100 that that is what i need. any help would be greatly appreciated.