San Diego wiring harness install-Painless vs. Centech

[72SDBRONCO]

Tired of chasing electrical gremlins and have decided to install a safer more reliable harness. Thought it would be a great learning to install myself, but think I better try and find somebody in the San Diego area for the install. Considering the Painless or Centech harness.

Let me know if would reccomend anybody in the San Diego area to do the install and thoughts between the two harnesses. Appreciate the feedback, thanks everybody.

John

 

[73stallion]

Having installed both, I'd go Centech.

 

[broncoitis]

Seriously, I recommend that you save the money of paying somebody and do it yourself. Installing a harness is not all that complicated and looks harder than it is in reality. You can do it.

As for Painless vs. Centech, that is a personal choice I guess. I have a Centech in my truck right now and have no complaints seems to work just fine and the installation was pretty straightforward once I got familiar with it. All the wires are labeled as well so that definitely helps. I would buy another Centech harness in the future as well because I like how it worked out and the owner Jim is a really helpful guy to talk to and troubleshoot with.

I like the Painless Harness as well and it looks like it might be a bit easier to work with in terms of upgrading our trucks with PW, PL, etc, etc.... My truck is going in that direction and I think the Painless would have been a better choice if it were available back then but it wasn't. I think that it is a bit better than the Centech because it is very upgradeable. However it does cost quite a bit more than the Centech as well. I think the Centech could be just as versatile with the addition of one of his Auxiliary panels for additional accessories which I will be using this year sometime.

Honestly, can't really go wrong with either harness. Both really good options for sure. I would probably look at it this way Stock of lightly modified Centech. More modified I would go Painless.

Not to throw a Monkey Wrench into your plans but there is another harness out there as well that just came around for the early Bronco. Wild Horses is carrying it and it is made by Auto Wire and that too looks like a really nice option for rewiring in the future and has some nice features to it as well.

Hopefully this nonsense makes some sense and helps. That is my take on the harnesses and im sure somebody else will add to it and may completely disagree with what I have to comment.

Good Luck! ;D

 

[BluebroncoNC]

I found the Painless to be pretty easy to install and I was scared out of my mind about doing the electrical system. I can do many things well given enough time but electric isn't one of them. The Painless system has had zero hiccups, was easy to do, really just plug and play, I had a more difficult time deciding where I was going to place Modules and solinoid's in my engine bay than doing the actual wiring.

I have a picture or 3 on my thread showing the back of the instrument panel wire up if you want to take a look, just click my sig.

Having heard folks talk about Centech, I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

 

[Stutsmo]

My opinion is that you can do this yourself. Both are great harnesses! Centech is a little more work to install than the painless. If I had never done it before,and had no electrical experience. I would be able to install the painless in a weekend with no problem.

 

[sicaz66]

Mark at beach city broncos has a wiring guy. Awesome work. Call him at 619-997-9954

 

[72SDBRONCO]

Thanks for your suggestions and your confidence in me! At this time I have no plans for PL or PW. At this time....

I see both harnesses offer with or without OE ignition switch? Is the only difference that one comes with a new ignition switch? If so, I already installed a new ignition switch a couple months back, so might be able to save 30-40 bucks?

And what are your thoughts on replacing the other switches that are not included w the kit while I'm doing the install? Brake, turn signal etc. ?

Thanks again.

Seriously, I recommend that you save the money of paying somebody and do it yourself. Installing a harness is not all that complicated and looks harder than it is in reality. You can do it.

As for Painless vs. Centech, that is a personal choice I guess. I have a Centech in my truck right now and have no complaints seems to work just fine and the installation was pretty straightforward once I got familiar with it. All the wires are labeled as well so that definitely helps. I would buy another Centech harness in the future as well because I like how it worked out and the owner Jim is a really helpful guy to talk to and troubleshoot with.

I like the Painless Harness as well and it looks like it might be a bit easier to work with in terms of upgrading our trucks with PW, PL, etc, etc.... My truck is going in that direction and I think the Painless would have been a better choice if it were available back then but it wasn't. I think that it is a bit better than the Centech because it is very upgradeable. However it does cost quite a bit more than the Centech as well. I think the Centech could be just as versatile with the addition of one of his Auxiliary panels for additional accessories which I will be using this year sometime.

Honestly, can't really go wrong with either harness. Both really good options for sure. I would probably look at it this way Stock of lightly modified Centech. More modified I would go Painless.

Not to throw a Monkey Wrench into your plans but there is another harness out there as well that just came around for the early Bronco. Wild Horses is carrying it and it is made by Auto Wire and that too looks like a really nice option for rewiring in the future and has some nice features to it as well.

Hopefully this nonsense makes some sense and helps. That is my take on the harnesses and im sure somebody else will add to it and may completely disagree with what I have to comment.

Good Luck! ;D

 

[72SDBRONCO]

Thanks, I will check out the pics. Appreciate it.

I found the Painless to be pretty easy to install and I was scared out of my mind about doing the electrical system. I can do many things well given enough time but electric isn't one of them. The Painless system has had zero hiccups, was easy to do, really just plug and play, I had a more difficult time deciding where I was going to place Modules and solinoid's in my engine bay than doing the actual wiring.

I have a picture or 3 on my thread showing the back of the instrument panel wire up if you want to take a look, just click my sig.

Having heard folks talk about Centech, I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

 

[broncoitis]

Thanks for your suggestions and your confidence in me! At this time I have no plans for PL or PW. At this time....

I see both harnesses offer with or without OE ignition switch? Is the only difference that one comes with a new ignition switch? If so, I already installed a new ignition switch a couple months back, so might be able to save 30-40 bucks?

And what are your thoughts on replacing the other switches that are not included w the kit while I'm doing the install? Brake, turn signal etc. ?

Thanks again.

You have to reuse the switches! That has not been a problem for me at all. Centech explains in the instructions how to use the older style switches instead of their included switches. The only switches that are different from the factory switches are the headlight which is actually the same switch just a different mount for the bezel, the wiper switch and the ignition.

You can do this install yourself and will build up alot of personal confidence if you tackle it. Honestly isn't that hard to do. You just can't be scared of the boxes contents when you get it because it is a bit intimidating! However, once you start looking at things in sections it starts to get simpler to understand. If you pay attention when you are removing your old harness the new one is gonna go back in just the opposite. The most confusing area of the whole install is probably the instuments and the starter solenoid but in both cases the instructions walk you right through it. Round up some buddies and do this yourself. You will be glad you did. Worst case scenario would be that if you thought that you were in completely over your head you could always pay to have it done. What fun is that though? ;D

I did mine with absolutely no experience with wiring at all just like many others on this forum and it was a good experience and got it done. ;D

You can do it!

 

[ransil]

If going centech order the optional stock ignition switch adapter, the one in the kit is a lawnmower switch and does not fit the stock dash correctly.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[BluebroncoNC]

Two additional comments, I want to say I ordered the Painless with switches, which seemed to me to be an option, but it didn't come with an ignition switch atleast that outside cylinder and key, it may have come with the internals I don't recall at the moment.

Also, I will give a shout out to Painless's customer service, they never hesitated to assist me, even when the problem centered around an LED kit and not their harness, well even if it was to point out their harness wasn't the issue. Also, needed them to clarify one thing with the wiring of the alternator and um the ignition module, which again they did without hesitation.

 

[techlaf]

I've done a Painless and a Centech. No question I'd do a Painless again. The time you save is easily worth the up charge.

Call Centech and ask for a wiring diagram. They ask you why would you need one and then that they don't have a diagram. The directions look like they are typed on a typewriter 20 years ago and then photocopied hundreds of times from the original.

The GM weatherpak connections on the Centech are the only thing I think is superior and that's debatable depending on what you're trying to do.

Fast, easier to understand, and pro all the way = Painless.
Cheaper (in $, but still decent quality), slower, and a bit amateur = Centech.

 

[72SDBRONCO]

Great info so far, thanks everybody!

 

[fetorino]

One more option to think about

http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-18062-american-auto-wire-complete-classic-re-wire-kit.html

 

[nickeboy]

I am just finishing the AAW harness right now. I hate wiring, but this has been pretty simple so far. I will be doing a write up soon, but so far so good. I would definitely say do it yourself it has been a good experience and I feel like I've got to know the wiring system completely. It's one of those things you just have to dive into and it turns out to be pretty straight forward. Good luck!

 

[eric0o1]

I designed the harness so someone like yourself could easily complete the job in the driveway/garage. Like mentioned by everyone else, give it a shot yourself. It'll give you a great understanding on how your electrical system works. If you can take the old harness out without making any cuts, you can certainly install our harness. If you have any install questions, before or after the purchase I'm here mon-friday 8am-5pm cst 817-244-6212 ext 1024 or you can contact me through the boards or a PM.

Have you taken a look at the install manual yet, everything is laid out in detail:

http://www.painlessperformance.com/Manuals/10113.pdf

 

[luvmybroncoman]

http://www.ezwiring.com/wiring_harness.html

Here's another one if your on a budget or just can't part with 600 for a harness. I couldn't so I went this way. A couple of us in SD have gone this way and it's not that bad. The most time consuming part for me was wrapping the harness.

 

[mnido]

I designed the harness so someone like yourself could easily complete the job in the driveway/garage. Like mentioned by everyone else, give it a shot yourself. It'll give you a great understanding on how your electrical system works. If you can take the old harness out without making any cuts, you can certainly install our harness. If you have any install questions, before or after the purchase I'm here mon-friday 8am-5pm cst 817-244-6212 ext 1024 or you can contact me through the boards or a PM.

Have you taken a look at the install manual yet, everything is laid out in detail:

http://www.painlessperformance.com/Manuals/10113.pdf

I too am getting close to wiring my frame off build and looking for wiring options. My build is not stock so I am wondering what to do. I will have a custom dash using Autometer gauges, Explorer alternator, MSD ignition, carbureted, electric fuel pump, H-4 halogen headlight, TOMS mini starter, TOMs steering column. I am using a NV 3550 and would like to have the backup light work. I will not have a top or doors, no heater, no AC. I am still contemplating a Wildhorse view finder with the windshield wiper kit. I would like to have a key ignition to turn on the ignition, a switch to turn on the electric fuel pump, then a push button to start the engine. Would your Painless kit work in a situation like this? Thanks!!

 

[BluebroncoNC]

I too am getting close to wiring my frame off build and looking for wiring options. My build is not stock so I am wondering what to do. I will have a custom dash using Autometer gauges, Explorer alternator, MSD ignition, carbureted, electric fuel pump, H-4 halogen headlight, TOMS mini starter, TOMs steering column. I am using a NV 3550 and would like to have the backup light work. I will not have a top or doors, no heater, no AC. I am still contemplating a Wildhorse view finder with the windshield wiper kit. I would like to have a key ignition to turn on the ignition, a switch to turn on the electric fuel pump, then a push button to start the engine. Would your Painless kit work in a situation like this? Thanks!!

Yea, the Painless kit should indeed work in that situation, but honestly Centech would as well. The Painless install manual gave plenty of options for hooking up different kinds of alternators, ignitions, and in case you get stuck, they do answer their customer service promptly, though they probably won't help you too much in custom work, they will tell you what their system or a sub system is intended to do, you will have to work from there.

Hope that helped.

 

[Seattle66]

Great thread!! I am also looking into installing a new harness and I have been asking some shops around Seattle to quote the install. But after hearing all the comments on this thread I think I am going to try it on my own.

I have a question on install order and priorities. I have a list of upgrades I want to do that touch the electrical system directly. Some of them include a new dash, radio, speakers, electric wipers, and an electric fuel pump. Trying to coordinate and pay for everything all at once will be a bit tough, so what order do people recommend doing the upgrades? Is it worth installing the harness first and then work on the other upgrades over time or wait on the harness?