Check your Alt. wires!!!!!!!!!!

[DEFYANT]

I was not intending on returning yet, but since the Defyant Marauder almost went up in flames.. I thought I'd pass this on.

As you may or may not know, the Trilogy Marauders have relocated altenators. This requires you to lengthen the 6 guage heavy wire that runs between the alt. and battery.

On my set up, the stock wire was lengthend with a spliced in 6 guage wire. The stock wire with the alt. connector was attached with a crimp connector.

For some reason, the crimp connector got very hot causeing the shrink tubing, electric tape and loom to melt. I did not get any warnings!! No smoke! No smell! Altenator output is normal. I found this problem while cleaning the MM today.

So T-MMs, check your alt wires.

Tomorrow, I will buy a new 6 guage wire and altenator connector. There will be one soddered connection between the stock wire and the new one.

[fastblackmerc]

I was not intending on returning yet, but since the Defyant Marauder almost went up in flames.. I thought I'd pass this on.

As you may or may not know, the Trilogy Marauders have relocated altenators. This requires you to lengthen the 6 guage heavy wire that runs between the alt. and battery.

On my set up, the stock wire was lengthend with a spliced in 6 guage wire. The stock wire with the alt. connector was attached with a crimp connector.

For some reason, the crimp connector got very hot causeing the shrink tubing, electric tape and loom to melt. I did not get any warnings!! No smoke! No smell! Altenator output is normal. I found this problem while cleaning the MM today.

So T-MMs, check your alt wires.

Tomorrow, I will buy a new 6 guage wire and altenator connector. There will be one soddered connection between the stock wire and the new one.
Whenever you do any wiring modification to a car you should solder & heatshrink tube the connection. saves much grief later on......

[DEFYANT]

Whenever you do any wiring modification to a car you should solder & heatshrink tube the connection. saves much grief later on......
Especially in the engine room!

I did not do this part of the install.

Regardless... of the 105+ T-MMs, there may be others with the same potential problem.

[MarauderMark]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune and good thing you caught it in time .But its good to have ya back.:up:

[BillyGman]

Whenever you do any wiring modification to a car you should solder & heatshrink tube the connection. saves much grief later on......YES!! Mine is soldered and heat shrinked.

[Tallboy]

Carfixer and I use Gardner-Bender brass butt-splice kits with brass set-screws, then the whole thing is heat-shrinked using adhesive lined tubing. Then, the harness is wrapped in a protective wire loom. Our customers need never to worry about this happening to them.

It costs us a bit more to do it this way, but we feel it is worth it.

[wsmylie]

Thanks for that info Chuck... after reading Charlie's post I was planning on making a trip out to where the MM is in temporary storage to check on the alt wiring. Trip cancelled buddy. Also thanks for the heads-up Defyant.
Carfixer and I use Gardner-Bender brass butt-splice kits with brass set-screws, then the whole thing is heat-shrinked using adhesive lined tubing. Then, the harness is wrapped in a protective wire loom. Our customers need never to worry about this happening to them.

It costs us a bit more to do it this way, but we feel it is worth it.

[Haggis]

I was not intending on returning yet, but since the Defyant Marauder almost went up in flames.. I thought I'd pass this on.

As you may or may not know, the Trilogy Marauders have relocated altenators. This requires you to lengthen the 6 guage heavy wire that runs between the alt. and battery.

On my set up, the stock wire was lengthend with a spliced in 6 guage wire. The stock wire with the alt. connector was attached with a crimp connector.

For some reason, the crimp connector got very hot causeing the shrink tubing, electric tape and loom to melt. I did not get any warnings!! No smoke! No smell! Altenator output is normal. I found this problem while cleaning the MM today.

So T-MMs, check your alt wires.

Tomorrow, I will buy a new 6 guage wire and altenator connector. There will be one soddered connection between the stock wire and the new one.
Charlie, it is good to see that your car is safe, hate to have MarauderMark back with the fastest marauder in Maryland again. :baaa:

Now back to the books and keep studying!!!! Lisa your suppose to keep your eye on him and make sure he is studying. What happen did you fall asleep on the job? :sleepy:

[Jerry Barnes]

Hey Folks,

If you think there is a problem with extending the wiring and have some recommendations, please let us know. I will turn this over to the engineers on Monday and get started at taking a look at possible changes to avoid any problems. We may also send a email to all of our customers and ask them to check their wiring connections.

Thanks for the heads up. I hope this did not cause anyone any difficulty. We will look at this first thing Monday morning. Please send any suggestions to jbarnes@trilogyintl.com.

Thanks

Jerry

[Hotrauder]

Hey Folks,

If you think there is a problem with extending the wiring and have some recommendations, please let us know. I will turn this over to the engineers on Monday and get started at taking a look at possible changes to avoid any problems. We may also send a email to all of our customers and ask them to check their wiring connections.

Thanks for the heads up. I hope this did not cause anyone any difficulty. We will look at this first thing Monday morning. Please send any suggestions to jbarnes@trilogyintl.com.

Thanks

JerryJerry, I haven't even looked at this the under the hood perspective but as an uninformed soon to be "T owner" the problem begs the question,"why splice?" Can a direct connection be made? One piece with the proper connections would never be a problem. Thanks. Dennis:)

[Jerry Barnes]

Jerry, I haven't even looked at this the under the hood perspective but as an uninformed soon to be "T owner" the problem begs the question,"why splice?" Can a direct connection be made? One piece with the proper connections would never be a problem. Thanks. Dennis:)


We hate splicing! But, we have been unable to get matching connections to avoid splicing.

So we splice!

Jerry

[Tallboy]

Jerry, I haven't even looked at this the under the hood perspective but as an uninformed soon to be "T owner" the problem begs the question,"why splice?" Can a direct connection be made? One piece with the proper connections would never be a problem. Thanks. Dennis:)

Dennis-fear not. When you see the set-up Carfixer uses, you will be more than impressed... :bows:

[Smokie]

We hate splicing! But, we have been unable to get matching connections to avoid splicing.

So we splice!

JerryNothing wrong with splicing, the electricity that comes into our homes travels thru hundreds maybe thousands of splices from the source to your home, your house has splices at every outlet.

It is the quality of the splice that matters, Jerry I make a living making splices that carry 50 amps at 240 VAC, contact Carfixer as suggested by Tallboy, they use superior hardware and method to make the 2 splices, so they can safely handle the required amperage.

[HwyCruiser]

Good catch Defyant.

Is this something your installer took a short cut? That's a lot of juice to be putting through a crimp-on butt splice. You could replace the spliced wires with a single continuous lead. You should be able to get the terminals somewhere, just make sure to solder the wire into them.

[Bradley G]

Glad to hear nothing bad (permanent)happened Charlie.
I took Chucks advice and used the Gardener Bender Butt splice connectors.
Set me back, three bucks each.:coolman:
Thanks for the heads up Charlie !!!

[Tallboy]

Glad to hear nothing bad (permanent)happened Charlie.
I took Chucks advice and used the Gardener Bender Butt splice connectors.
Set me back, three bucks each.:coolman:
Thanks for the heads up Charlie !!!

Who loves ya??? :beer:

[Bradley G]

Back at ya Big Dude! :bows:
Who loves ya??? :beer:

[DEFYANT]

OK,

Just back from the garage.

All is well. I replaced the splice with a new wire of proper gage and new Alt. connector.

This is not Trilogys fault. The crush crimp connector was not good enough. Over the last 7K miles it came loose or wasn't crimped enough. This caused the connection to get warmer than normal.

I soddered the new wire to the original and the Alt. connector to the new wire.

Jerry,

I would suggest looking into the Carfixer / Tallboy method as it sounds good for the DIYer. This is also a cheeper easier addition to your kit. I found similar connections at the store, but chose to sodder for piece of mind.

[STLR FN]

Who loves ya??? :beer:

Back at ya Big Dude! :bows:
Don't make me have to put younz under suspicion. :nono:

[Hotrauder]

Nothing wrong with splicing, the electricity that comes into our homes travels thru hundreds maybe thousands of splices from the source to your home, your house has splices at every outlet.

It is the quality of the splice that matters, Jerry I make a living making splices that carry 50 amps at 240 VAC, contact Carfixer as suggested by Tallboy, they use superior hardware and method to make the 2 splices, so they can safely handle the required amperage.

Javier, I know you are correct in the applications where no choice exists but it seems to me that if it is possible to have no splices if the proper connectors are available that would be the optimum method. Why risk a possible melt down or worse for want of a connector. It seems an unnecessary risk to have to depend the slicing skill of the installer and then to expose this less that ideal arrangement to the vagaries of time and travel. The Trilogy is a wonderful and expensive system and I am surprised at the problem reported by Defyant but pleased that it all turned out ok. Dennis :)

[Hotrauder]

Dennis-fear not. When you see the set-up Carfixer uses, you will be more than impressed... :bows:
Chuck, I am sure that it correct but I would be a lot happier and I suspect you guys would be too if a correct one piece lead with the proper connectors was included in the kit. Just a thought. In fact it sounds to me as though Jerry would be happier also. Dennis:)

[Smokie]

Javier, I know you are correct in the applications where no choice exists but it seems to me that if it is possible to have no splices if the proper connectors are available that would be the optimum method. Why risk a possible melt down or worse for want of a connector. It seems an unnecessary risk to have to depend the slicing skill of the installer and then to expose this less that ideal arrangement to the vagaries of time and travel. The Trilogy is a wonderful and expensive system and I am surprised at the problem reported by Defyant but pleased that it all turned out ok. Dennis :)Dennis a single wire would be better, if you can buy it with OEM quality connectors on the ends already, no question about that. Since this is not part of the kit, the buyer would need to secure this wire prior to install.

I personally would not feel secure with a crimped connection; because of the gauge of the wire most people will not have the proper crimping tool for that gauge wire, my splices are not crimped. I check every exposed aspect of my engine before driving (I like looking at it) hoses, linkage, fluids, belts, pulleys, wires. It sounds tedious but I only drive the car once a week, so I enjoy doing it.

[the_pack_rat]

but as an uninformed soon to be "T owner" :hmmm:

Yet another Trilogized DTR I can swap cars with ... when no ones looking at one of our get togethers.

:bandit:















:D

[RF Overlord]

FWIW, the tech who installed my Trilogy used a special die and a hammer to crimp the alternator cable splices. I just went out and checked mine and see no evidence of overheating.

[Tallboy]

FWIW, the tech who installed my Trilogy used a special die and a hammer to crimp the alternator cable splices. I just went out and checked mine and see no evidence of overheating.

And you shouldn't. As long as it's done properly, the crimp connector is fine IMO. But, squeezing it with a pair of vise-grips won't get the job done. You need those special tools. Looks like you went to a reputable shop, RF. :up:

[DEFYANT]

I would avoid the crimpers for a major connection like this. Using the butt-connectors for small wire is fine. I have been using them for 15 + years. When you use a good crimper tool, they are excellent.

I was there when the wiring was done. I did not watch Rick from Amazon Racing as he did the crimp. But I know he used professional grade tools.

It looks like I am the only Trilogy MM to have this problem. That is good. Or perhaps, others are quietly making the fix / upgrade.


Either way, I am glad its out there for everyones FYI. :)

[Cobra25]

Thank you for the heads up. I'll check mine in the am. I'm sure it's fine, Carfixer did the install.

[carfixer]

Thank you for the heads up. I'll check mine in the am.
I used the Gardner-Bender connectors on all the installs I did, including your's. You should be fine, but check it anyway to be sure they're holding up.

[Cobra25]

I used the Gardner-Bender connectors on all the installs I did, including your's. You should be fine, but check it anyway to be sure they're holding up. Thank you my friend, I'll look in the am to be sure, but if you did it, which I know you did I'm sure it's good. After all who is the # 1 installer hear?

[the fat bastid]

All who read this! heed defyant's words for he speaks of wisdom!

so there i was rolling down the road and i meet a friend at the stop light.
i throw some revs, it turns green, i mash it and start going sideways wasting
alot of rubber. cool.
going home i noticed the battery light came on and my volt gauge fell to 11.5.
not having time to do it myself i dropped it off at the shop. i didnt think it was melting because it looked ok and i was having obvious symptoms (unlike defyant). i figured a premature failure of the alt.
the mechanic said that the connector melted and he fixed it with the solder/shrink method.

just an fyi