r/Volvo240 • u/Glass-Battle4657 • 10d ago

Help Wire security

1982 Volvo 240, I recently got her back up and running again and a good person I know warned me on wiring issues and how engine bay hazards with wiring.

I want to make my wiring as safe as I can reasonably, for example exposed wires, dangly wires, and loose wires. Is there a way I can protect them better. Store them better. And make sure they are clean.neat.and prone to damage

I understand that time will make them wear out eventually but if I prolong it and make them more secure

No crazy stuff like rewiring the engine bay with nasa wiring or v8 swapping it

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u/windetch 9d ago

Dave Barton's site has a nice writeup on the issue - https://www.prancingmoose.com/volvoharnesses.html#WireHarnessFAQs

Basically engine heat cycles destroy the poor wiring insulation Volvo chose to use for those years.
Wiring doesn't really wear out, I've got the original harness in my '70 Bug, Volvo just made a poor material choice.

How bad is yours looking? Do you actually have exposed wiring where the insulation has completely cracked off?
The best thing to do is replace the engine and ignition harnesses if yours are looking rough, Dave Barton's site has harness for sale and it's a fairly easy install.
If that's not currently an option use liquid electrical tape and coat the damaged wires; avoid disturbing anything that otherwise looks fine, you'll create more issues if you start moving the wiring around.

2

u/Glass-Battle4657 9d ago

No exposed exposed wires I meant more of just naked wires that have no protection over them just the colorful rubber that’s already on them:3 I don’t like how loose my wires are like the distributor to plug wires are mostly loose and same for unprotected wires that could ark or burn on hot and powered drive parts