Candela T. - Automotive Wiring and Electrical Systems. Vol. 2: Projects

CarTech

CarTech, Inc.

39966 Grand Avenue

North Branch, MN 55056

Phone: 651-277-1200 or 800-551-4754

Fax: 651-277-1203

www.cartechbooks.com

2015 by Tony Candela

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission from the Publisher. All text, photographs, and artwork are the property of the Author unless otherwise noted or credited.

The information in this work is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. However, all information is presented without any guarantee on the part of the Author or Publisher, who also disclaim any liability incurred in connection with the use of the information and any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Readers are responsible for taking suitable and appropriate safety measures when performing any of the operations or activities described in this work.

All trademarks, trade names, model names and numbers, and other product designations referred to herein are the property of their respective owners and are used solely for identification purposes. This work is a publication of CarTech, Inc., and has not been licensed, approved, sponsored, or endorsed by any other person or entity. The Publisher is not associated with any product, service, or vendor mentioned in this book, and does not endorse the products or services of any vendor mentioned in this book.

Edit by Paul Johnson

Layout by Monica Seiberlich

ISBN 978-1-61325-266-6

Item No. SA367

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Available

Written, edited, and designed in the U.S.A.

Title Page:

The MSD ignition module is wired together on the bench, and there is plenty of room around the ignition components and good room for the wiring behind them. Behind the ignition module are relays for the door poppers, power windows, air conditioning, and the starter solenoid.

Back Cover Photos

Top Left:

Use your DMM to locate the dimmer output of the headlight switch; it is active with the parking lights and varies in voltage when rotating the dimmer. Piercing probes are very handy for this and they leave only a tiny hole in the insulation of the wire.

Top Right:

A high-amp alternator is a must for many high-performance vehicles that draw a lot of current.

Bottom Left:

A car with many high-amp equipment and accessories requires batteries and cables capable of supporting the system. The circuit breakers protect the wing.

Bottom Right:

The interior light module is completed. I cleaned this area with isopropyl alcohol and used high-quality double-stick tape to mount it.

CONTENTS

Tony Candela has been in the automotive aftermarket electronics industry for more than 25 years and has held positions in installation, sales, management, manufacturers sales representation, and regional sales management. In his tenure, he has worked for two aftermarket electronics manufacturers: Clifford Electronics and Rockford Fosgate.

In February 2009, he founded his own company, Candela Sales & Marketing, which specialized in the automotive and electrical fields. In April of that same year, his first book, Automotive Wiring and Electrical Systems, was published by CarTech. In 2011, Tony founded CE Auto Electric Supply, a supplier of automotive electrical components, and in 2014, he penned the book EFI Conversions: How to Swap Your Carb for Electronic Fuel Injection, also for CarTech.

Tony has written about and given hundreds of seminars on the topics of installation, application, wiring, and basic automotive electronics. On the weekends, he can typically be found in his garage working on his vehicles or at any number of car gatherings in the Phoenix area.

Id like to thank a few people who continue to influence me. As in my previous books, my first thanks are to my parents for teaching me that I can do anything I choose to do if I just apply myself! In addition, I thank Steve Meade, Todd Ramsey, Jason Digos, Motor Mike, Bill Surin, and Garry Springgay for continually making me look at things with a fresh perspective.

A book of this nature simply wouldnt be possible without a bunch of assistance. I thank the numerous people who allowed me to use their prized possessions in the examples; they are Chris Downs, Pete Horton, Bill Surin, Mike Cote, and Motor Mike. I also thank the following companies that have bent over backward to help me in this venture: Fluke, Mitchell 1, MSD Ignition, Holley, Auto Meter, Painless Performance Products, ISIS Power Products, Iraggi Alternator, Mr. Gasket Company, XS Power, MagnaFuel, and Beck Racing Engines. Finally, I thank a few people specifically for making themselves readily available to me: Anthony DAmore, Jim Candela, Frank Beck of Beck Racing Engines, Todd Ryden of MSD, and Doug Flynn of Holley.

Thank you!

Thank you for picking up my second foray into the topic of automotive wiring. This book is designed to give you clear and concise step-by-step directions for completing the most common electrical projects of a performance nature. Here, you will find information that is presented in real-world terms that you easily understand: quite the contrast from the typical installation manual that you dont read anyway. Heck, we dont need no stinkin manual.

I think youll really enjoy this book because, quite simply, it picks up where the installation manual leaves off. Admittedly, some excellent installation manuals are included with aftermarket products, such as those included with MSD ignition products. But they stick to a fairly straight path. This book presents a lot of what if scenarios and provides the answers. Ive included every photo and diagram that I think youll find necessary to get you to the Promised Land. In addition, if I use a specific tool or part, I give you the information that you need to obtain it. Remember, the objective of any project is to complete the work correctly the first time.