OK...Whats the deal with this UVC wiring? - Diesel Forum

WabbaStang · 08-31-2005, 12:20 AM

Reading about some other people who've had trouble with the UVC wiring being loose, and the symptoms that have been mentioned sound identical to the problems I'm having on my early '99. I have found lots of posts from people saying they "fixed the uvc wiring" but nothing about how it's done or what the actual problem is! Is something loose? Are wires pinched? What's the deal? Whatever it is, I need to do it!

JimTJr · 08-31-2005, 06:26 AM

Your injectors/GP wireing goes THRU the valve cover gasket..(Actually part of the Gasket) Inside the wireing can get brittle..from heat. But there was a problem with the clips holding the plugs tight in the early years. If yours are loose and you have NOT BURNT up the plug already...then there are some little locks,,UVC LOCKS, the dealer will know what you mean. (Three plastic pieces...like 11.00) You only need two..guess one is if you loose one of them.... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] or they felt guilty charging that much for two pieces... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]
Anyway,,insert them into the harness,,and it will hold tighter.
But if you have been loose for a while,,you may have damaged the plugs..from arcing,,,there is 115v going to the injectors,,and pretty high amps to the GPs... do a really good visual of them.
The actual UVC harness is not too bad price wise...the gaskets are up there!!!!

WabbaStang · 08-31-2005, 02:16 PM

OK thanks, makes more sense now. Sounds like the thing to do is check the connectors and see how they look, and try the clips first before tearing it all apart.

Anyone have a quick procedure on getting to these?? I have no idea where they are at

streetdoc432 · 08-31-2005, 02:34 PM

The only way to check is to remove your valve cover...Do you know which side is messing up? Find someone with a IDM code reader, If it says #_ cylinder circuit open..even number cylinders are on the drivers side, odd # cylinders on the passenger side. Once you figure that part out, lay some carpet or padding across your engine, climb up on top of it, and make yourself comfortable. Take off your intercooler tubes and whatever else is blocking your access to the valve cover. Once you get the valve cover out of the way, the plug is right there in front of you, you can't miss it, it may be covered in oil, but it is really kind of simple to replace. R & R only took me about an hour and a half.

klhansen · 08-31-2005, 03:45 PM

My recommendation is to get replacement harnesses. The connectors themselves get brittle and will no longer hold them tight to the VC gasket. You may even break the connector trying to put the clips on (don't ask how I know this [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]).

Retainer (Under Valve Cover Harness clips)
2C3Z-14A163-AB
Int’l 1844193C91

Wiring Harness, Injectors & glow plugs
F81Z-9D930-AB $50.15 (online ford parts place price)
Int’l 1830844C93 ~$25

One of the guys hot-glued the connector to the VC (I think it was the outside one, but if cleaned up well, that might work on the inside one also).

Hope that helps

WabbaStang · 08-31-2005, 04:59 PM

OK stupid question but... Would an IDM code throw an SES light? Because so far we've never gotten a light but everything I've read of other people's problems points to the UVC stuff.

Also checked with local International dealer..
Clip kit: $8.22 (3)
Wiring harness $18.12 /each
Not too bad

So if you have to pull it apart to "really" check it out, is there another connector on the inside??

JimTJr · 08-31-2005, 05:38 PM

There is ONE Main connector on the Under valve cover (UVC) harness...it has 8 other connectors on it...4 to the injectors and 4 to the glow plugs. The gasket has two connecting points on it...inside the VC and outside,,the one you can see in the valley of the motor..(If you lean over and look hard..lol) Then the engine harness connects to the gasket. I would check allllll connections of course. Look for burnt pins..melted plastic, ect...
Neither one of the valve covers are that hard to remove,,the passenger side is more intimidating,,,but not that bad really.

klhansen · 08-31-2005, 08:26 PM

[ QUOTE ]
OK stupid question but... Would an IDM code throw an SES light? Because so far we've never gotten a light but everything I've read of other people's problems points to the UVC stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]
An unplugged injector WILL light the SES and throw the P1316 and P127X codes. Not sure if an intermittent problem would do that, but it will still throw the code. Maybe the SES isn't on long enough for you to notice it.

[ QUOTE ]
Also checked with local International dealer..
Clip kit: $8.22 (3)
Wiring harness $18.12 /each
Not too bad

[/ QUOTE ]
Good prices - wish we could do that good up here (the good ol' Alaska Gouge [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img])

[ QUOTE ]
So if you have to pull it apart to "really" check it out, is there another connector on the inside??

[/ QUOTE ]
What Jim said.

WabbaStang · 09-01-2005, 04:59 AM

Well, thanks to the help I went and changed both harnesses tonight, not that big of a deal if you just take your time like anything else. Runs better so I suspect that the old stuff had seen better days. So far no more dropping idle and noticable smoother.

Still shakes like hell right about 38mph when it hits lock up!! Argh. Tranny is smooth in all other gears...Torque converter time?

JimTJr · 09-01-2005, 06:14 AM

Sounds like some kind of tranny issue..TC or otherwise. I LOVE MY BTS!
If yours fails tooo bad your way out west there,,,, but he SHIPS!
Glad you got the other issue figured out.

JF · 09-01-2005, 09:46 PM

[ QUOTE ]

Also checked with local International dealer..
Clip kit: $8.22 (3)
Wiring harness $18.12 /each
Not too bad

[/ QUOTE ]
Anyone have the International part numbers for the harness and/or pigtails from the outside of the valve cover to the 40 pin connector?

Thanks

klhansen · 09-02-2005, 02:23 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone have the International part numbers for the harness and/or pigtails from the outside of the valve cover to the 40 pin connector?

Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

VC connector to 40 pin (actually 42 pin) is the whole engine harness. Many $$$ [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

Try a PM to Dave1957. He gave me some numbers for other repair pigtails, but not the VC outside connector one. Maybe he can track it down for you.

Fat Diesel · 09-02-2005, 12:35 PM

If yours was like mine, and the locking mechanism of the clip broke, try zip tying the connector to the CCV housing on the valve cover. A couple of large black ties connected together works very well.

Also, don't be afraid of asking the parts or service manager if they have any "bad" harnesses around. Often they are not that bad and have nice connectors. I got some 42 pin connectors for free from a Lincoln Mercury dealership.

Hope this helps.

miteyvictor · 09-02-2005, 03:31 PM

If you retainer fingers are not broke, I have what I think is a perfect fix.
Cut a peice of 20 guage sheet metal, ( I used Staimless Steel [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] ) into a rectangle of 1" X 3/4".
Push the plug back into position then slip this wafer between the plug and the clips. Snugs it all back up and holds the locking fingers into position.
With the rocker cover in place the wafer is totally encapsulated and cannot move.
I was afraid of any other mods due to the possibility of something coming loose or disolving in the oil. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]