I finished replacing the headlight connector (driver side) that caught fire days ago but now noticed that the passenger side connector was also a bit melted from a while ago. I bought a another new headlight connector (H4 pigtail) for the passenger headlight. My question is, is it safe or OK to use those self tapping splice connector thingies? I soldered the driver side headlight wires to the new connector and it works great but my soldering job was a bit messy.

I am thinking of redoing the headlight wires and using self wire tap splices for each wire and then plan to put plenty of tape around them. Here's what I'm talking about.



If you can't see the image let me know.

1.) Will they be ok for headlight wiring?
2.) What guage wire (no guesses please) is the headlight bulb connector wires? I don't want to buy the wrong size wire taps.

Thanks!

I've seen some weather proof ones as well which I plan to buy (I'll still tape over them)

 

A good bit of the forums will advise against it. They do not take long to break/corrode, and will not hold as well as even a messy solder joint, being plastic and such. I have used that exact type with bad experience, but you can definitely use it as a temporary measure.

Just curious why you're opting for these over butt connectors if you're going the crimp route anyway? These are typically used to 'share' power off a wire, such as for an alarm (door, ignition, etc.)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Davus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A good bit of the forums will advise against it. They do not take long to break/corrode, and will not hold as well as even a messy solder joint, being plastic and such. I have used that exact type with bad experience, but you can definitely use it as a temporary measure.

Just curious why you're opting for these over butt connectors if you're going the crimp route anyway? These are typically used to 'share' power off a wire, such as for an alarm (door, ignition, etc.)</TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually that sounds like a good idea. I'm now thinking of maybe using a butt connector for each wire, adding solder to the butt connector for extra bonding, then either tape it or heatshrink it. Would that sound like a better idea?

 

Yeah, definitely. I've even heatshrunk butt connectors before.

I would slide butt connector on, as well as heat shrink, then solder the wire. Slide butt connector over, crimp, slide heat shrink over, and get heat gun (or lighter ). It'll assume a good hold, albeit a bit over top. But, I'm no soldering pro and don't expect anyone else to be (short of fcm, suspendedhatch, wrx-killer-sti-eater, as they do that stuff for a living...).

Just always keep a beverage handy.

Edit: Lol, in during 1337 posts.