DIY Wiring For Any Vehicle! (Almost)

I'm working on my Double Dually Mutt Truck project, and I need to wire the whole thing up. I decided to try the whole system on a table to make it easier to see and work out the bugs. That was a good idea, because not everything went as planned.
Part prices I show are the price at the time I bought them, it will probably change! Links for the Nilight stuff below:
Fuse Boxes:
www.amazon.com/dp/B089T47R2L
LED Taillights:
www.amazon.com/dp/B0841GJZ96
Mini LED lights:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07QBB7G1J

[@TheHomePros6221]

If every school in America had a teacher like this guy to teach basic mechanical skills to our youth then this country would be much better. This guy would make an amazing shop teacher!! Awesome video!! Everyone should watch this!

[@theodoreolson8529]

Well...yes he would until the play back his videos and all the jury-rigged contraptions 🙂 (don't try this at home kids)

[@RobertFay]

*- Agreed.*

[@TheTulerie]

They used to. Then the school districts pushed as hard as they could for everyone to go to college, because the schools would get more money for students who moved onto college. When I got into high school back in 2008, they got rid of our auto shop & metals teacher to replace them with more arts classes. I was lucky enough to get into working on cars as a child & taught myself pretty much everything from KZbin, believe it or not! 2 years after I graduated, I was making almost $50k a year. Had a really nice vehicle and my own place that was a rental, but still. HS now set up a majority of their students for failure because I believe that not everyone is meant to go to college. We need to bring back trade classes!

[@larryalexander4833]

@@TheTulerie agreed .! Stay away from the commy liberal brainwashing institutes .

[@MadScientistGarage]

Kids all over the world that like to tinker have James as a shop teacher now! Video plays in any time zone and it's up forever now.

[@jackallen6261]

The 3 prong flasher is what we called (back in the 70's and early 80's) a self leveling flasher. The extra ground ran a separate, for lack of a better term, self resetting circuit breaker, which in turn controlled a relay which actually ran the turn signals. They were recommended for trucks pulling a trailer with the extra load from the trailer lights to keep them from blinking super fast. No matter how many lights were hooked to it (within the limit of the relay amp capacity) the turn signals flashed at the same speed.

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks for the info!

[@rsprockets7846]

@@LowBuckGarage might want to get a wiring harness from a vega or other H body car, simple wired for GM alt has turn signals and headlights already mocked up we stripped them from the junkers before we took them to yard and got 45 bucks at swap meets even with switches

[@martinalan4062]

Still one of the best on KZbin . Great information well presented.

[@acalthu]

This is hands down one of the best informative videos I have ever seen on youtube. Excellent way to visualise the concept, you could adapt this to rewire a classic aircooled porsche easily.

[@RobertFay]

*- Really good show and tell tutorial, James. Thank you.* *- Being a good teacher comes naturally to you. That is a rare thing.*

[@richardphelan8414]

What a excellent demonstration breaking it down to it's simplest components this was a great demonstration thank you

[@jamesmccarl9954]

Great videos I am a 68 year old country boy pretty handy at fixing things but I love your videos easier for me to understand common problems, keep up the very informative videos.

[@scottschenk5456]

For me, 73 slicker!

[@forgottenknowledge8917]

I'm 39, bumpkin

[@htownblue11]

What a great simplistic lesson on how wiring works in most vehicles. Even modern vehicles use same principles.

[@willydillard8648]

Great video. Wiring has always been a mystery to me and this helps a great deal. Appreciate the trouble you went to. Thank you

[@michaelduran8392]

I really like this video. I felt like I was in a classroom again. Clear and fun to watch. Thank You.

[@mcmillanfarms]

Ok that has got to be the best and most concise wiring front to back for older vehicles that I have seen (don't know if I have ever seen another one though). The visual training goes a long way in my book.

[@davidjones8680]

Ive been fixing car electrics for over 50 years, but even I have learned a thing or two here, especially with the LED stuff. Many thanks. David in the U.K.

[@ronwalsh]

An excellent episode. I know I developed my mechanical skills better when I was shown how things worked. Thanks for sharing.

[@flyingpeter]

i think this is the best 101 car wiring i have ever seen, exelent video my dude

[@RTWGraphics]

This hands down the best automobile electric, diagnostic, video I've ever seen.

[@infamousftfw]

This has helped me a bunch! I watched this to see if it could help, and i was surprised to see someone on youtube could explain all this well enough. To be fair, i really was just looking for motivation to start wiring my car. It's daunting sometimes thinking how much im going to have to do! Just wanted to say thanks again! Will definitely share with other friends for their builds!

[@bigDbigDbigD]

Love this channel. Wish we were neighbors. We would have s a ball

[@bigDbigDbigD]

Well Maybe just me. You are already having fun.

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

That would be a fun neighborhood to drive through anytime a person needs inspiration.

[@wackowacko8931]

3 terminal flashers in cars were used to flash the side marker lights (new requirement around 1970) during the "off" period of the turn signal lights. Turn signal light would be on while side marker light was off, turn signal light would be off while side marker light was on. In the 80s they let auto manufacturers do a wraparound turn signal lens instead of requiring a separate side marker light. 87 and 87A on the Bosch relay were the "activation" for the relay, you would feed V+ to 87, or ground to 87a to turn the relay on. The ground trigger was for things like a horn switch, where the button on the column grounds out to turn on the horn relay to activate the horn.

[@kamoboko86]

This is such a good video for anyone just getting into the hobby. Really easy to understand.

[@matman999999]

Damn. I’m rewiring. Your awesome. Love your attitude. Inspiring.

[@landontesar3070]

Really like how you take the basics and then a few steps further to bridge generations. Thanks for the original content.

[@rvenden]

Love your videos! They are fun, interesting and always informative. Thanks!

[@BeingAGamerguy]

Need to clean up some piss poor wiring in a Jeep this spring and I needed this video. (Previous owner liked using nineteen colors of wire interchangeably to patch broken or grounded wiring by the looks of it). I have the ignition figured out, and it charges, but I did not know how to interpret the sealed beams on the front and now I know I will probably need a different flasher to get the replacement tail lights to work. Appreciate you laying out everything in layman's terms, now I just need to spend money on cool switches and relays.

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

Brilliant explanation. I didn’t recognise why you needed a diode at first because I’ve never seen one in an Australian car but then I remembered that US vehicles don’t have orange turn signals on the back like we do here. I’ve always wondered why, cost saving perhaps. Cheers Stuart 🇦🇺

[@teddill4893]

Great demonstration! Really broke it down to the basics. Thank you!

[@drive42]

I migrated to your site from Cold War Motors. Keep up the good work! It is neat to see the tooling my grandpa's generation used to work on their cars.

[@federicomolina6745]

Wow! Came looking for copper, found gold!!!

[@staninjapan07]

That's a top-shelf video right there. Thanks a lot. I am not good with vehicle electrics, but i could apply this to my motorbikes.... if I knew what components I was actually looking at when looking at the bike.

[@koenvangeleuken6544]

very nice video. i like simple. i've made wiring for several vehicles, 3 cars (unimog) and 2 bikes. the unimogs were diesel, so thats simple to start with. then i used only 1 fusebox, always connected to the battery. i also fitted a heavy duty battery cut off switch. so if i switched off the engine, everything still had electricity; when i left the car i switched off the battery switch and everything was dead, you could not forget lights or anything. worked fine. and of course, i used rear light units with seperate rear light/brake light/indicator.

[@davidfountain1165]

👏👏👏👏👏 amazing job!! Very thorough!!! I needed this video very badly!!

[@ambersmith6517]

your a dam genius gump very good job at teaching my friend

[@davidbeer]

I'm gonna watch this another 3 times even though it is a little different in Australia due to separate blinker bulbs in behind amber lenses on rear of cars. Nonetheless best video I've seen on this subject and very very educational

[@Fudgieguys1969]

Thanks for the demo. Like you, I am old school. I don't need my ECM, TCM, or any of those other CM families of electronics.

[@goptools]

Nice, thorough explaination of automotive elecrical systems, including some potential "gotcha's"! Thanks for the video!

[@jeffrey9349]

Such a great demonstration this is probably going to help a lot of people pretty cool man...

[@ronmiller682]

I loved this video. Thank you for sharing and making it a good time.

[@Cristobal_Ygnacio_Arriaga]

This video is awesome! Is going to come very handy since all the basics are here. The only thing I would’ve like to know is how to determine the proper gauge of wire needed for different applications like: electric fans, headlights, etc..

[@brianmorrow9815]

Awesome video. You are the master of explaining something for the average Joe for sure. Love all your videos. Looking forward to the next one

[@beakittelscherz5419]

I wish I had seen something like this sooner. 40 years ago, when I was still at school! Absolutely FUNTASTIC! And the best thing: I actually understood everything, even when it got a little more complicated with more components. In this Order it all makes sense and is fun! Thanks for the video!

[@abanimishra3246]

Sir salute you and ❤ for this educational video.. I wish god give you good health.. love from India

[@brianadams1318]

Excellent video for beginners

[@paulbarthol8372]

Seven wire switch, stepchild of a German Enigma machine

[@jimciancio9005]

Best LED flasher to use for regular 4 to 6 light connections I've personally found out are cheap Chinese motorcycle adjustable speed LED flashers! 3 wires I believe and a slotted Pot to adjust for the individual loads of whatever or how many LED lights your running? They're usually under 5 dollars each! And they have all worked out from my personal experience with them 👍Hopefully someone finds this useless information useful? Just passing it forward Lol!

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks for the info! I'll pick one of those up and try it out.

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

Started with the starter, and finished with the starter. Hmm, electricity has some mysteries.

[@wmsltv2565]

Could it possibly be the indicator for your hazards noticed a little red button under the lever thought maybe thats the push pull button for the hazards like the 70s 80s Mopars. Great video as always learned a good bit from you so far. Would like to see more on the dodge ram half-trac. Looking forward to more videos

[@daviddamico4288]

Awesome display , I was never shown that when I was in school many years ago … nice work

[@deepbludude4697]

Where were you in 1974 when I was learning all this by burning stuff up? But still having fun so i musta been doing it right! Excellent upload!

[@noamz1740]

Hey James, I did many electrical systems for cars and motorcycles, And still I enjoyed every second of your clip. ! 👍👍 You got a great KZbin cannel which should and hopefully grow to be huge ! Noam.

[@slashsplat]

Showing this to my grandson for his education.

[@audiodiwhy2195]

I put low buck garage on the same stellar plane as mustie1 and shango666. really fun how to fix cool old stuff videos.

[@glenskidoo]

its for ur hazard switch, the red knob

[@nameless502]

Very good informational video. Should’ve been a teacher!

[@CrazyHamSales]

Great video.. hint for making LEDs work with the two wire flashers or electronic flashers if they don't flash. Add a resistor from the output side of the flasher to ground, this makes it think there is a greater load then just the LEDs connected to it. They sell load resistors for this purpose when you want to install LEDs into older vehicles, but instead of putting them on each light I just put one at the flasher so there is always enough load to trigger it.

[@fletchermania]

Great job explaining hopefully you get the views it deserves

[@teryshaw7370]

What’s your day job? My guess is teacher, or engineer. Anyway, keep doing it not wrong. Love the projects.

[@beakittelscherz5419]

Ich wünschte ich hätte sowas Früher gesehen. vor 40 jahren etwa, als ich noch zur Schule ging! Absolut FUNTASTISCH! Und das Beste: Ich habe tatsächlich alles verstanden, sogar als es etwas komplizierter wurde mit mehr bauteilen. So macht das alles richtig Sinn und Spass! Danke für das Video!

[@RADIOACTIVEMASCULINITY]

This is a great video, I’d like to see something like this occasionally in addition to your normal content 💪 Great explanatory video!

[@pmae9010]

I always thought the third flasher terminal (I don't remember the marking) went to the turn indicator light.

[@spiderchata1]

mann....thank the creator for sending me to ur site. Sir you are the best instructor for how to wire and why. thank you for sharing. if can get it anyone can...as long as you are instructing. ...I do have a question..does the starter need a fusible link between solenoidand ign switch?

[@dustytrailscactusron]

Man, that was an amazing tutorial! Thank you!

[@johndowe7003]

this is THE video for wiring for beginners. great video

[@dongeorge4037]

Ohh, I LIKE the buzzer on the motocycle flasher. As I've gotten older (and as my older car has gotten louder) I need a noise to remind me to turn off the turn signal instead of driving down the interstate for 30 or 40 miles with my turn signal still on.

[@randymack2222]

Another modern safety addition is the flashing side marker lights. If you wire your (2 filament) turn signal fixture ground wire to the positive of the marker lamp, then ground the marker lamp normally. The side marker will dim and brighten, providing a side visible turn indicator! I discovered this trick used one of my cars from my youth, after wrapping tinfoil around a blown fuse to get me home. Instead I melted the entire rear wiring harness. I learned a great deal about automotive wiring that week!

[@kennethsonier1766]

I've got to hand it to you, you did a fantastic job of simplifying something that's always seemed complicated to me. You're an awesome mechanic and you do some great work.👍✌️🇺🇲

[@cen7ury]

The "led compatible" flasher would work fine if you wired a resistor into the circuit. Really, any flasher will work with LEDs if you add an in-line resistor.

[@cliffhaupt5413]

That was very helpful. Thank you.

[@OneCarGarage777]

PHENOMENAL VIDEO!!!! Liked and subbed!

[@robertcroweiv3037]

Great video, see how long before it gets a million views!

[@kevinpaulson2659]

This was amazing! Thanks!!

[@handyhippie6548]

i'd say over half of all starter issues can be traced to a bad connection of some type, and if left unattended will eventually cause a starter to overheat and fail. i didn't really learn anything new here, but it was interesting nonetheless. i've wired up many projects from scratch from tractors and trucks to cars and motorcycles, including a dozen v-dub sandrails i built from tack welded kit frames i bought from sandrail magazine back in the early 90's. you did an excellent job describing how the entire electrical system works, and i will direct anyone asking me how to do it to this vid because i don't have the patience anymore to explain it to a noob.

[@richardshreeve4932]

This video is absolutely amazing. It reveals everything that today's novice drivers need to pass automobiles 101. It shoul be compulsory viewing for eery teen wanna-be driver.

[@rockcrusher4636]

Excellent, so interesting even for old mechanics, and the wife liked it, your good brother, your good. Thanks for sharing, best channel on yt. Cheers.

[@simplydub]

Wish I’d seen this b4 I learned about relays 😅

[@BallBusta]

About a month ago I had a little issue with electrical myself. Was fixing my brothers mower, the issue was electrical, managed to narrow it down to the starter. Checked online for a replacement starter, that shit was like 200 bucks (which wasn't in my budget), so I cracked the starter open to see exactly what the issue was. Turns out, all the springs that press the brushes into the starter were rusted to pieces. So I looked online, found a brush replacement kit for only 8 bucks, and that included the springs. Learned a lot in the process about starters, solenoids, fuses, and tracking down issues with a multimeter. Needless to say, I learned a hell of a lot more since watching this video. Thanks for the upload!

[@timprestia-cook315]

Thanks for the best presentation on wiring I have seen. Thanks, entertaining and a great watch.

[@mrglasecki]

Nice visual

[@paulditzen2708]

Regarding the 87/87A relay, I wonder if you could run two electric fuel pumps?? Or two other devices?? A main and a backup?? I've been doing wiring for longer that I want to admit but still enjoyed your presentation. The only thing you forgot, speaking of relays, was the horn. Oh, on one blinking and one steady stoplight. I would argue that that is more noticeable than both steady on. Keep up the good work. Would like to have you as my neighbor.

[@kenterry3226]

Dayton 12T962 $23.15 limit momentary switch (good for old manuel trans with no reverse light switch.)

[@billlezak1977]

Awesome for basic wiring video. I will be saving it and if anyone ask me how to wire this is their answer they will get.

[@DavidHutson-pt5pe]

Re: The three-wire flasher unit. The electronic circuitry in that flasher, whether it operates from a timer circuit or a thermal sensor circuit, requires it's own ground connection to function.

[@vaitonl314]

Missing one thing, dear ole dad yelling curse words while your trying to point the flashlight where his hands are working. You learn really fast then.

[@rustyrobinson8027]

awesome thanks 👍

[@andrewwarren6332]

I went through a similar ordeal with the flasher on my jeep YJ when I converted to LEDs. At first I did just LED tail lights with the stock incandescent front marker lights. With this setup one of those "LED compatible" two prong flashers worked fine. Once I converted to all LEDs though, it would just stay on. To keep the two prong setup without using a load resistor, I used a part number EF32RLNP flasher. It has the same two prong form factor, but also a ground wire that comes out of the case. Works great and they are inexpensive.

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks for the info!

[@noahingram8052]

Thank you you just helped me fix my headlight low and high beams 11:09

[@philjafo2]

Curt makes an adapter for trailer light connection from the euro cars with separate turn and brake lights. It works great for fixing the brake turn problem

[@terrywarner8657]

Now you tell me!

[@michaeldenton8610]

This is a great video!

[@michaelf8302]

Your videos are great. You would be a great Auto Shop teacher...

[@Chumley360]

Great video!!!!!

[@ddssdickday]

I have no idea what your vocation is, but if you're not in education, you missed your calling :) In 43 minutes, you made all of this make sense. I'm 74 and never really understood how the auto electrical system worked. Thanks!

[@jeepindave5464]

Thank you James. I know this has to be very time consuming to demonstrate all of this.

[@bart9859]

Check out DEWHEL 12V 0.02A-10A 2-Pin CF-12 Electronic LED Flasher Relay Fix for Turn Signal Light Fast Hyper Flash on Amazon, there are others out on the Amazon. It all depends on your Amp needs.

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks for the info! I just ordered one to try out.

[@R.Sole88109]

Great bit of knowledge transfer. Good job on not letting the magic smoke out👍🏻😄

[@stevenwithanS]

I added more small incandescent bulbs to the turn circuit to help with the LED problem on my 62 C50. I just tucked them into the front clearance lights. You did a great job of laying out the basics.

[@ChoppazOG]

Great video! This is my type of learning

[@tomtichi8760]

Awesome. Thanks

[@robertmccully2792]

Very good , except regulator not covered.

[@tb7246]

Question about the headlight/parking switch. The negative that you didn’t know what it was for. Could it possibly be to turn on a relay via a negative trigger?

[@davidolson9909]

Wiring has always been tough subject for me. Your explanation from basic start to end was excellent. You are a great teacher, and Thank you for taking the time and effort you put forth. This video is one of the best on the net, and have saved it for future reference for my son and myself. Thank you James. Great job!

[@stevenkeeffe9137]

1. "I already knew all of this." 2. Until you broke it down for us visually, it didn't really make as much sense. Therein lies the difference between knowledge and wisdom... or something. I now have confidence in my knowledge because I've seen it in action. I'll likely forget what I've learned and still let the smoke out.

[@JimFinlayson]

This might be the most informative KZbin video I’ve ever watched. Thank you for sharing 👍