how do i read a harness?

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Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: General Mobile Electronics Questions and Answers
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=120568
Printed Date: July 15, 2025 at 7:32 PM

Topic: how do i read a harness?

Posted By: orlpanda31
Subject: how do i read a harness?
Date Posted: March 07, 2010 at 9:09 AM

can anyone explain to me what the proper way of reading the numbering of a wiring harness?

I've heard a lot of "pin 1 of the 32 pin harness" but dont know which it corresponds to. (i.e. which is up/down, numbered clockwise, counter clockwise, diagonally, etc....)

Replies:

Posted By: KPierson
Date Posted: March 07, 2010 at 11:55 AM

There is no correct way - it is completely arbitrary. You need the documentation of the harness to know for sure. On some harnesses, the numbers are molded in to the plastic (very, very small).

When colors and pin numbers are given you should always go by the color first, then verify with a meter. If you have multiple wires in the same harness and you have colors and pin numbers for both you can use the pin numbers to get an idea of where the wires should be in the harness.

One big thing to keep in mind as well is that not all harnesses start at Pin 1 - sometimes pin numbers are of an entire system, not just an individual harness, so if you are looking for a "pin 80" don't assume it can't be in a 20 pin harness!

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Kevin Pierson

Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: March 11, 2010 at 4:20 PM

Ah Kevin you should work with Peugeots where the colours get changed every few months. I've yet to find a plug on a modern car that wasn't numbered somewhere.