de pinning vs cutting off extra wires

Up until recently I've been pretty dead set against de-pinning remote start / alarm connectors for the shear reason that if the customer ever decided to remove it from one vehicle and install it in another it could cause problems. However, with the Compustar units I'm using now, I can buy a new harness kit for pretty cheap... which is what I will be doing regardless so that I don't have to deal with extending wires, etc. So I've been experimenting with de-pinning the harnesses. The only set-back I can for-see is a customer who decides to add-on to the remote starter down the line... but I'm thinking for the few times that happens, saving a bunch of de-pinned wires would be fine. Any input?Kenny

Owner / Technician

KKD Garage LLC

Albany, NY 12205

I cut back and leave a few inches and heat shrink over it.  The main harness with heavy gauge wires I de pin

That's more of what I was planning on doing from here on out. To help prevent having to add a wire back to the harness down the road, I'll probably just depin the main harness and the wires that won't ever be used (parking light reminder, siren, starter-kill, etc). Then the rest I will cut like I've been doing. I just did it this way on a starter I just prepped for a 2013 Optima and it seems to have worked out pretty good. Cleaned it up a bit but left room for expansion.Kenny

Owner / Technician

KKD Garage LLC

Albany, NY 12205

I've de-pinned everything my whole life. It's cleaner and stops people from messing with doodie. I carry enough stock incase I ever need a harness. Besides like you said the harnesses are cheap. Just my two pennies

It's a customer service issue in my opinion. It isn't your harness to depin. What if they want to add a feature down the road? What if you are not around or they move? If you depin I would strongly recommend at least giving all the wires to the customer so they can add back as needed. If you cut short and tape/heat shrink it allows other installers to modify the system. I personally don't think it looks that bad to cut them 3-4" long and tape them. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Lastly, just because you can buy a harness kit now doesn't mean it will be available in 5-6 years when the customer is looking to upgrade their car. The only way your argument is valid is if you are planning on buying them a replacement harness when they buy the system so that down the road they can work with the harness you hacked up!!!   :)Kevin Pierson

also if for some reason the manual cant be found or not available online then it becomes a guessing game which pin goes with which wire and what function it serves.

Even the time aspect of it makes me just cut and tape up. Really doesn't look any worse to me and many times i've been glad the wires were there when going back in for something.  I just don't see the point...Mike M2

Tech Manager

CS Dealer Services

I never cut, nor de-pin. I make adaptors. Admittedly that's usually for simple and old car additions or swaps, but has included an all-electronic speedo cluster to its mechanical/analog equivalent, etc. Same reasons - for later reversion to standard. Or moving to another vehicle. (Especially since my "new" vehicles are the same or similar models & ages as my existing vehicles.)

Every answer above is good but I'm running with KP and Mike on this, 3 weeks down the line the customer decides he/she wants window close and you've lobbed the aux and armed out?

Valid points. I may have to rethink this over and will probably end up just going back to cut and tape / shrink tube.Kenny

Owner / Technician

KKD Garage LLC

Albany, NY 12205