Working with weatherpak terminals

[DRJDVM's '69]

I just got all my Ridetech stuff to get all my compressor hooked up and alot of the cables will be WAY long for what I need when I mount it all up. They come pre-terminated with weatherpak terminals. Rather than have all the extra length all bundled up and looking like crap, I want to shorten them as needed.

So...

I know I need a special crimper to make the terminals.....any suggested place to get it and the new terminals? I plan on doing more in the future, so I'm willing to invest alittle $$ in getting a good tool.

How do I get the current terminals out of the plastic end "caps" ? I know how to get terminals out of "standard" connectors, but not the weather paks. I'd rather not mangle the plastic caps I have.

[DRJDVM's '69]

So Jegs and Summit have kits...

It looks like some of them have a special tool to remove the terimals.. can it be done without the tool?

Is the Weatherpack and Metripack terminals going to use the same crimper?

[gearheads78]

I have a little tool that looks like a throwing star from Matco tool truck. I use it for all kinds of terminals including weather pac.

edit :I found them on EBAY just do a search wire termial tool

[Jim Nilsen]

Some weather pak terminals can be removed with a safety pin, others need a tube with a spring and some the 2 prong tangs.

I just got done playing with my hego O2 sensor plug and the tool like in the pic didn't work but the safety pin did. I had to bend the tang back to its original place to get it to stay back in but it work good.

Getting the right tool really helps and really getting some light on them helps in seeing the tangs. A small led light is what I used to see them.

Good luck and remember that you can buy new ones and shorten up most of the wires in a harness to begin with. You can also change to a different style connector if you wish. Most connector are a certain shape to conform to factory harnesses.

[Vegas69]

I just ordered a large weatherack kit from Casper electronics. They have terminals capable of 12 gauge wire where Painless doesn't. The kit came with the terminal removal tool for like $75 bucks and included about 20 connectors and a bunch of terminals. I bought my crimper from American Autowire. It's a real GM tool and was pricey but works perfect. I'm sure Casper has one as well. They were very friendly and helpful when I called.

[GregWeld]

Once you Weatherpak you never go back!

They are THE BEST -- but do require special crimpers (Moroso also sells a very nice ratcheting crimper with changeable jaws so you can do weatherpak - spark plug wires and regular crimps!)... and require special tools to work with pin replacement etc.

What I like the most about them - I can do TWO 4 (pick a number here) place connectors - in the same harness next to each other - and I can REVERSE the male/female connectors - so that there's no way you could connect them together incorrectly. Lights and fans - pumps etc -- all weatherproof - locking - and mix up proof... can't beat that combo.