Spec Boxster Wiring Harness clean-up?

[986FortyEight]

Thanks!
I actually came across that flicker series of pics while scouting the web desperately for more info.
From what I've read, once all unnecessary wires are gone, 4 remaining wires need to be extended in order to relocate the fuse and relay1 boxes to the old passenger airbag spot.
Good call on the immobilizer.
I started to go through the schematics in the Bentley and highlighted all the stuff I can pull out. I also found this video interesting for removing terminals from a connector:
removing terminals on the VW wiring harness - YouTube
It should be similar on the Boxster connector.

[Brad Roberts]

Michael,

I start with all door wires, then stereo wires, then move to the HVAC wiring.

I end up with 4 fuses and one relay (fuel pump) at the front.

The biggest mistake I have made is accidentally removing a portion of the brake light wire. It splits off and goes two directions: ABS and brake lights.

Typically I pull 20+lbs out of the harness (depending on options the car shipped with)

The clutch safety switch can be grounded back at the ECU, so.. the wiring can go.

I'll have the TexasSpec site back up in a few days. Right now none of us can recall the admin password for the admin area.. LOL

[Jittsl]

I successfully removed a full garbage bin full of wire and associated crap (about 30 lbs all up) by taking the following approach:

Start with wires that lead to nowhere because you have removed the thing that used to attach to them ie stereo, heater, airbags, AC, electric locks, windows etc. and simply remove the wrapping off the harness and trace the wire back to its source if you can (usually a switch, a fuse, the immobilizer or the big harness that runs back to the rear). If you can remove it all the way to the point of origin in one go great! If not, simply terminate and wrap the wire wherever you end up (it doesn't matter because you know it doesn't do anything and eventually you'll come back to it). Don't rewrap the harness yet. Instead simply place loose tie wraps around it every foot or so (that way the next wire you deal with can be more easily dealt with). Keep going until you have removed all the wires that terminated at nothing. It will take a lot of effort and a lot of patience but it's amazing how simple you can make the whole system in the end.

The next phase is to study the wiring diagrams and figure out what of the systems that are left you can live without or abbreviate - things like indicators, trip computers, wipers, lights, emmissions crap etc.

The only mistake I made in my process was to cut away a bunch of twisted pair wires that I assumed were speaker cables - turned out the Anti-lock brakes also use twisted pairs so I had to do a little rebuilding.

Not a job for the impatient but lots of fun.

Laurence.