Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

My power antenna died on the last shut down of the car on the last drive of the season in 2014. Just lucky I guess. :rolleyes:

Now that things have warmed up, I'm trying to dig that antenna out of the fender. Ongoing thread here...

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...ew-1988-t.html

But between the fender vent, and this (ECM?) harness connector that passes through to the interior, I cannot get the power antenna out. Everything else is done.

Removing the vent, which is overlapped by the ground effects, seems like more of a chore than disconnecting this harness connector.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...9e912978d0.jpg


As you can see, at some point in the cars life, someone was chasing a water leak with a LOT of silicone. My guess is end-of-line plant repair, as the original owner had all work done by a dealer, there is not warranty claim inside 12/12, nor a repair listed in CarFax (though others are). Regardless, all this silicone is making it a little harder to determine how this connector comes apart.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...24cd3f8626.jpg


I see the connector body clip (see screwdriver) toward the front of the car, and it feels like there's another at the back (nice). With the front one released, I tried to wiggle this connector, to get an idea of which way the connector separates. I'm assuming that the fender side of the harness will move in a downward direction, given the orientation of the clip. But the direction of the wires going into the connector might make you think it would pull out toward the fender. It shows no inclination to move in any direction...I can't even spot a parting line.

Has anyone had one of these apart? I'd love a few tips on what I'm doing here, before I break something. A photo would be fantastic.

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

If I'm wrong , I hope someone will correct me , but , I was almost positive that what your looking at is not a plug in connector that can be disconnected , instead it's merely a very fancy pass through to keep the ECM wires from chafing .

Every time I've ever seen an ECM harness that's been removed from a car , that thing is always together (not unplugged in any way) and so that is why I question whether it actually is a connector or just a pass through .....

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

You may have a point, OrangeBird. I was wondering why the factory service manual (FSM) did not identify this as a connector.

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

Correct.


The antenna has its own pass through (about 1 1/2" round) about 2" above that connector, you can see it in the second picture, first post.

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

:thumbsup: Thank You for confirming that , camarotucker . I noticed as Dave did also , that it's not called "C" anything , like how the main dash to engine body connector is called "C100" , for example .

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

Agreed; it's a fancy grommet.

If you think it's challenging to get out of the cowl side, try removing one from a harness for swap use.

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

OK. Thanks guys. I already have the power antenna harness/grommet removed. Just need enough room to get the power antenna assembly out. If that's not going to move, I guess the next thing to look at is the fender vent.

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

Iirc the bracket that goes to the side of the assembly will unbolt from the body as well as the assembly and may give you more room to work/rotate.

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

As said above, that has nothing to do with the radio. (round grommet above it)
There is a clip on the inside of the car under that kickpanel that will release the passthrough harness you are pointing at..

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

Yep...I already have that grommet and harness removed, so it can stay assembled with the power antenna assembly. The power antenna assembly is now completely detached from the vehicle, floating freely inside the fender, but is trapped by the vent and this harness.

Ah ha! I'll check that out. Thank you.

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

OrangeBird, camarotucker, jmd, TTOP350...thank you all! It's help like this that makes this forum great! :thumbsup:

Found the clip TTOP350 mentioned. As in the photo above of the exterior of that pass-through, they had sealed the edges of the pass-through on the inside as well. Smoothed over with silicone, the clip was not visible. Dug it out, pulled it, and out she came. This, and a few other maneuvers (see my thread linked in post #1 of this thread) allowed me to removed the power antenna assembly.

Thanks again gents! https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...231a816328.gif

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

:thumbsup: Glad to hear of your success ! Having the collective knowledge of fellow third gen owners has saved my butt on more than many occasions too :cool:

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

Probably would have been easier to go in through the wheel well.

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

Not sure I follow you. Photo 2 in post #1 in this thread is from the wheel well side. Once the harness grommet clip is removed, it has to travel outward, into the wheel well, is it is over-sized compared to the opening.

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

That's the way I did it last week. Remove the inner wheel well cover and you have pretty clear access to the power antenna motor. There's one bolt holding the motor in place along with the bezel on the fender. Remove those and the whole assembly drops right out.

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

Does the GTA Have a fender vent like the T/A? Between that, this wiring harness, and the antenna mast being stuck partially extended, I had a bear of a time getting mine out. I did finally get it though.

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

Dave, are you doing the new mod/repair with the 3/32 galvanized steel cable?? It works!

PS: The GTA has no vent so its a little easier to maneuver around in there to get it out

Its on TurboTA forum

Bob

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

Hey Bob.

Yes, there was a lengthy thread here on TGO, this one I believe...

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...ld-thread.html

...that talked about using cable. I think it's that same thread that Scott Moyer identified a gentlemen in Texas, who is an AACA member, who rebuilds them using plastic coated cable. With so many other projects going on, I decided to sublet this one to him. Shipped it there yesterday.

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

That's cool, Here's the link for in the future

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/thr...-again.369135/

Re: Before I break something...how do I seperate this connector?
 

I don't think I'd seen that one. Thanks.