Topic: What pliers to use and where do I get this connector?

[fastbroshi]

   We had a nice warm day today and noticed my AC wasn't working in my '07 Accord.  So I get to poking underhood and quickly found a wire that had been sheared off.  It was sliced so close to the connector that I'm thinking I may not be able to resolder in a length of wire to fix it.  If that's the case, maybe I can gently release this connector from it's length of wire and reuse it.  Question is, what pliers to use?  I don't think the standard ones in the hardware store will work.  Anyone know anything about these?  Here's some pics.





and disassembled

[ThomasD883]

Can you get me a few detailed shots of the metal part of the connector, I think I have something pretty close on hand but I'd like to be sure. Thanks.

[faux fiddy]

Nevr hurts to look at a pull-a-part for the piece, though we had trouble finding connectors for an accura there.

[fastbroshi]

TreeFiddy, I looked at quite a few, but none of them show a breakdown of the connector, just the componentry in that area under the hood.  For example:

http://www.1hondaparts.com/find-parts/Honda/ACCORD/2007/4DR%20SE/KA5MT/A_C%20COMPRESSOR%20%28L4%29

The couple sites I did find with connector diagrams didn't even have measurements!  Just very good pictures.

Can you get me a few detailed shots of the metal part of the connector, I think I have something pretty close on hand but I'd like to be sure. Thanks.

  Thanks Thomas, but I think I've found them here, despite them being listed as motorcycle stuff.  I could care less about the plastic pieces.  The measurements coincide with my connector very well:
http://www.qualitycycleparts.com/Motorcycle_Electrical_Connectors_wire_and_terminals_s/7240.htm

[ThomasD883]

No problem, I didn't even have to get off the couch 

[Gonzowerke]

I used to work at a Benz/Porsche/Audi/AstonMartin dealer in the parts department. Audi had a connector repair kit that had the really small airbag connector contacts already crimped onto pigtails, as well as all the other specialty contacts like that one. The crimpers that came with the kit were similar to the cheapies you can get at VatoZone, but much higher quality and a much smaller jaw size.

However, since you got yours apart, you now have plenty of room to solder a pigtail on, seal it with heatshrink tubing, and solder the other end of the tail to the wire on the car. That is going to be your best,Cheapest, and easiest way to go here. You don't need to strip a mile of insulation off to do a good butt connection, nor do you need to cook the wire by holding the iron on there.
Your other cheap  option would be the slightly unethical trip to a you-pull-it junkyard and pretend to look for something on a car like yours, while removing the connector and a suitable length of harness with wire cutters. Not something I would do, but I have seen it happen while shopping for Jeep parts.

[fastbroshi]

You lazy dog, you    I haven't been to vintageconnections' website in a while but these seem a little cheaper if memory serves.   Gonzo I used to do that all the time when I was still driving my first ride.  It didn't have front fenders or bumper, and every side of the car, even the hood had dents, dings and graffiti on it.  I had no shame.

And Bhut Jolokia peppers taste like a charred butthole, other than the heat I don't understand why they make salsa out of it.

[ThomasD883]

VatoZone, Lmfao. Se habla espanol?

[faux fiddy]

VatoZone, Lmfao. Se habla espanol?

Never heard that one either.

Had a very good experience with AZ yeterday, a disaster averted. Moving a friends daughter with a u-haul hooked up and the idiot lights came on. No way to shut off the headlights without killing the truck, and the alternator wasn't showing charge.

I said, no, not just trying to get you  off the phone, we ARE going to breakdown and we WILL be stuck on the side of the road. Find the nearest AZ.

Pulled off eight miles later and shut the car off in the parking lot Dead. Borrowed a few tools from the manager and bought a new alternator, did a quick charge while waiting,  back in transit in 45 minutes.

[Xnavylfr]

AZ is a good thing when you end up needing just that one tool you don't have , you go to AZ and purchase it and take it home and then find out it's the wrong tool (after spending a couple of hours using it) You take it back, NO QUESTIONS ASKED Return policy and get you cash back!!

Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[Gonzowerke]

Let me just get it out there that I am not a racist or anything, just a smartass. A gautemalan co-worker of mine is the first one I heard that from. It just seems like everytime you go in an Autozone, there are at least two Hispanic teenagers in there buying stuff for their car that makes you shake your head. When you see the P.O.S. they are driving, and see that they are buying chrome stick-on flames instead the of bulb to fix the taillight, or the sealant to fix the leak, and that they are driving on the emergency doughnut, it just makes you shake your head. Of course, there are plenty of whitebread kids in there in their monster t-shirts doing the same thing!

I have had mostly good experiences there, but a few bad ones too, like getting a new Alternator for a car I had, and going through their entire stock until I finally got one that worked out of the box.

[ThomasD883]

It's the same drag here , nothing against anybody personally, but I have seen a v6 mustang with Chrome flames, huge spoiler and flowmaster sound all right off the shelf. It's the same engine in a windstar man come on. Just not my style, I'm sure I look funny riding a 30 year old bike ya know.