Fuse box... what are these connections?

[Metalhead47]

Got to pulling my dash apart to install a tach today & discovered some PO's alarm box was still stuffed up under there, so I wanted to see about removing it. Since it's an alarm I don't want to go cutting wire willy-nilly for fear of not being able to start the rig after. Anyway, followed a wire to the fuse box. What are these connections above the fuses? (on the left in the pic) They almost look like built-in power taps. The purple wire with the crimped connector goes to the alarm, the other connections look professional if not factory. Help?

 

[dsmd58]

the purple wire with the blue crimp on plug doesnt look oem. the others are definitely oem. if you arent confident you can remove it yourself, take it to a local car stereo shop and pay them to remove it. funny you posted this, TODAY i just got around to remove a remote start alarm the PO had put in my rig....WHAT A RATS NEST!

 

[desertrat67]

The pink wire in the middle row is the main power for the windows and door locks. I believe. The orange wires are factory hots ignition off I believe.

 

[dyeager535]

Yes those are power taps...key on, key off, with crank, etc. You can read right below the aftermarket wiring "IGN" meaning that's a 12V switched ignition source. I believe all are marked but they stack up kind of weird so a voltmeter is handy to doublecheck if you need to.

They are not individually fused, keep that in mind for later if you want to add stuff.

 

[Metalhead47]

the purple wire with the blue crimp on plug doesnt look oem. the others are definitely oem. if you arent confident you can remove it yourself, take it to a local car stereo shop and pay them to remove it. funny you posted this, TODAY i just got around to remove a remote start alarm the PO had put in my rig....WHAT A RATS NEST!

Ooooh no, nobody touches my truck but ME. I have an innate distrust of all mechanics, espeically "local car stereo" hacks (many bad experiences). At least if I screw it up I know who to blame.

Actually I've got the alarm mostly out now. Just did it very methodically disconnecting one wire at a time then testing the ignition. I have one cut factory wire I need to splice back together (big fat purple one under the dash). Honestly, it looks like this thing was disabled for a long time before I got the truck.

Now you wanna talk rats nest, I havn't even BEGUN to figure out the hackjob tow brake wiring yet

 

[dyeager535]

Purple wire is one of your neutral start switch wires. Other wire to the switch is yellow as I recall.

 

[Metalhead47]

Yes those are power taps...key on, key off, with crank, etc. You can read right below the aftermarket wiring "IGN" meaning that's a 12V switched ignition source. I believe all are marked but they stack up kind of weird so a voltmeter is handy to doublecheck if you need to.

They are not individually fused, keep that in mind for later if you want to add stuff.

Wow what a concept, actually providing the vehicle owner with a simple means of adding stuff to his vehicle! Took me FOREVER to find an ign-hot wire on my wife's Nissan to tap into without hacking the factory wiring. Well looks like I've found the power for my tach, happen to know of an easily accessible coil wire I can use for the signal lead?

 

[dyeager535]

This is an EFI fuse panel I assume (both because of your profile stating you have a 1990 and because of the ECM fuse ) so yes. There is a spare white wire coming off of your coil. That's your tach lead.

You can get an appropriate connector from a similar vintage camaro if you like.

 

[Metalhead47]

This is an EFI fuse panel I assume (both because of your profile stating you have a 1990 and because of the ECM fuse ) so yes. There is a spare whiter wire coming off of your coil. That's your tach lead.

You can get an appropriate connector from a similar vintage camaro if you like.

That's what I was afraid of. I'm a short gomer & my rig is still up on jackstands. REACHING the coil will be the hard part