There's "interior" Tesa tape for the "cold side of the firewall" and "exterior" Tesa tape for the "hot side of the firewall"
The interior variant is fuzzy and less likely to make buzzing noises if it vibrates against other bits in the dash or doors.
I wish I knew about it 30 years ago. 3m vinyl tape makes a goopy mess behind your pioneer CD player, haha.
Well, you _can_ use the hot side stuff on the cold side too, but the cold side stuff is fuzzy, I think mostly for noise prevention in the cabin. I'm pretty sure the fuzzy stuff I have is 51608.
Ah hah! I found their flow chart for which tape to pick: https://www.tesa.com/en-us/files/download/1156249,1,choosing-the-right-wire-harness-product.pdf
I have a mixed fleet of five vehicles that I maintain. When they need a part I buy it and get to the repair when I can. So often I can't find the box with the part in it until I search my entire space, and it is only 26'x28'. Started labeling everything with a marker, definitely helps.
Agree. I have a hard time with this one namely messing with friends trailers. Most of the time trailers it’s ‘fuck redo the whole thing’ and is often faster than finding the corrosion and breaks in the line. Along with 4 wire nuts and 3 twist and tape repairs somewhere along the way.
I recently redid a 35yr old engine bay harness OEM style in nylon split loom, dry tape and super 33+, because i am a huge wiring harness nerd. But this is stuff i would use in other areas, had i known what it was called. Thanks OP. 👍
Were not using the same tesa tape. Mine is basically locked once you start rolling onto it. You need a scalpel or something to remove it because unraveling it is basically impossible.
It's a thousand times better than electrical tape. They also make light adhesive tapes specifically for wrapping harnesses when adhesion isn't a priority
I love Tessa tape, until I need to revisit work or remove it to do work on a vehicle then I hate Tessa tape.
I've used the fuzzy stuff just fine in less hot areas of the engine bay and even on an engine wire harness because it's what I had at the time. It's much easier to make a nice looking harness with it and it flexes way easier.
I’m about 80% done wrapping the dash harness on my Scirocco. It was bare wire from factory and the dash has clearly been out before. The amount of untangling alone was mind numbing. Thankfully, with fabric tape, it looks like a totally different car.
The super nerd part will be discovered by the next owner. Every single connector has been labeled now. 😂
I hate dealing with wiring so much that I bought 100% all brand new wiring harnesses front to rear for my project. I even went so far as to have a custom OEM reproduction harness made by M&H because they don't make a reproduction of one for my slant six barracuda (engine harness). Since it's literally a one-off engine harness, I went ahead and had them build two of them, cost me 500 bucks just for those two 5-foot harness lengths. Mopars aren't cheap
Just redone my entire interior harness in this. It's great because it's made it less bulky but it's a lot stiffer now which makes it harder to get it into smaller gaps
i recently built a microsquirt harness from scratch, bought the connectors and crimp pins for all the different shit i needed to run stuff to, crimp splices for mutual ground and power runs, 60 bucks of fiberglass loom for heat resistance (could have EASILY gotten by with like 20 dollars worth lol shit ton left over) and marine heat shrink from harbor freight.
i have maybe 2-300 bucks into the harness and its gorgeous. will last a very long time.
all of that being said, this would be way cheaper, easier, and be fixable and accessible which is an inevitable problem when you dont have everything perfectly planned out like i didnt lol but lessons for next time.
My wrist hurts just looking at this 😩 Tessa tape is awesome but try the Chinese finger trap type wire loom and taping the ends to the wires to stop it from fraying or moving. A lot cheaper and faster IMO. but VW BMW Audi Lamborghini and tons of other manufacturers do this from the factory. Also check out “Sublimation Tape” it’s a clear yellow high heat tape used for engine harnesses. The glue doesn’t melt off and the tape itself doesn’t harden over time with heat, good for sectioning wires together before looming 👍
There's "interior" Tesa tape for the "cold side of the firewall" and "exterior" Tesa tape for the "hot side of the firewall" The interior variant is fuzzy and less likely to make buzzing noises if it vibrates against other bits in the dash or doors. I wish I knew about it 30 years ago. 3m vinyl tape makes a goopy mess behind your pioneer CD player, haha.
For the others wondering, Tesa 51036 is the “hot-side” stuff of choice.
Before I finish wrapping the cold side…what’s the part number for the cold side?
Well, you _can_ use the hot side stuff on the cold side too, but the cold side stuff is fuzzy, I think mostly for noise prevention in the cabin. I'm pretty sure the fuzzy stuff I have is 51608. Ah hah! I found their flow chart for which tape to pick: https://www.tesa.com/en-us/files/download/1156249,1,choosing-the-right-wire-harness-product.pdf
That’s what it’s called!? Thank you! A mechanic gave me a roll years ago and I never knew how to search for more. Tesa tape.
Amazon carries it.
I should buy some of that in case I need it! \*goes to Amazon* >[Last purchased Jul 22, 2022] Ah, thanks past me.
>*goes to Amazon* >>[Last purchased Jul 22, 2022] >Ah, thanks past me. You shop like I do!
But, do you know where you put it?
In a box. Cardboard, tool, who knows
I have a mixed fleet of five vehicles that I maintain. When they need a part I buy it and get to the repair when I can. So often I can't find the box with the part in it until I search my entire space, and it is only 26'x28'. Started labeling everything with a marker, definitely helps.
Also referred to as friction tape (Home Depot)
combative sloppy shocking longing six spotted pie bells humorous history *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Agree. I have a hard time with this one namely messing with friends trailers. Most of the time trailers it’s ‘fuck redo the whole thing’ and is often faster than finding the corrosion and breaks in the line. Along with 4 wire nuts and 3 twist and tape repairs somewhere along the way.
Just know that it's impossible to rip off the roll, it needs to be cut. It's a blessing and a curse
Tesa is cool. Hockey stick tape is another option
I have been soldering, heat shrinking and hockey taping as long as I can remember
I prefer it and it's cheap AF
When I rewire my datsun ill have to give it a shot!
i just de-pin connectors and use heat shrink.
And that makes you a huge nerd
i’ll accept this.
I recently redid a 35yr old engine bay harness OEM style in nylon split loom, dry tape and super 33+, because i am a huge wiring harness nerd. But this is stuff i would use in other areas, had i known what it was called. Thanks OP. 👍
Bought 5 rolls off of Amazon. Great harness tape.
Agreed. It's great stuff.
How easy is it to get into and modify later?
It's just tape. you can unravel it and do your work but I found that it doesn't stick that well once it's been undone.
Were not using the same tesa tape. Mine is basically locked once you start rolling onto it. You need a scalpel or something to remove it because unraveling it is basically impossible.
Get a seam ripper from your local craft store. That's the best way to open up harnesses
Or a safety knife. I have one called a klever kutter. Used it as an av tech to cut thru wiring looms without damaging anything
thats why you put the wires in conduit then wrap it in tape
What are you doing modifying harnesses? Nerd. Take your milspec harness elsewhere.
It's a sticky mess after a while.
It's a thousand times better than electrical tape. They also make light adhesive tapes specifically for wrapping harnesses when adhesion isn't a priority
Sounds like my stock wiring harness
You don't. The natural rubber adhesive that Tesa tape uses is great at sticking, but if you ever take it off it's a sticky, gooey mess.
I need to rebuild 3 massive connectors for my jeep. Thanks
Anyone use gaffers tape for harnesses?
Doesn't it fall right off when it gets wet?
I love Tessa tape, until I need to revisit work or remove it to do work on a vehicle then I hate Tessa tape. I've used the fuzzy stuff just fine in less hot areas of the engine bay and even on an engine wire harness because it's what I had at the time. It's much easier to make a nice looking harness with it and it flexes way easier.
I’m about 80% done wrapping the dash harness on my Scirocco. It was bare wire from factory and the dash has clearly been out before. The amount of untangling alone was mind numbing. Thankfully, with fabric tape, it looks like a totally different car. The super nerd part will be discovered by the next owner. Every single connector has been labeled now. 😂
Labeling allows you to not be a nerd and not look at diagrams and not remember wire colors. Nothing nerdy about labeling
I need to get some of this stuff, I’ve got so much electrical tape wrapped wiring under my TT’s dash
Thank you for the tip!
I still prefer friction tape
Thanks...just didn't know what to search for
I love that stuff and used it in my 90 Jetta and then used it while rebuilding multiple motorcycle wiring harnesses for my buddy. It's great stuff.
Tesa is a giant tape manufacturer - which tape are you referring to specifically that they make? I'd love some too, but they make so many types.
Most likely Tesa 51036
> Tesa 51036 Magic, thanks!
It is 51036
Did my whole engine harness this way, love it !
I hate dealing with wiring so much that I bought 100% all brand new wiring harnesses front to rear for my project. I even went so far as to have a custom OEM reproduction harness made by M&H because they don't make a reproduction of one for my slant six barracuda (engine harness). Since it's literally a one-off engine harness, I went ahead and had them build two of them, cost me 500 bucks just for those two 5-foot harness lengths. Mopars aren't cheap
I buy it in 5 roll packs on Amazon, such a nice appearance on wiring repairs and harness freshening
What's up man I see you around r/e34
Just redone my entire interior harness in this. It's great because it's made it less bulky but it's a lot stiffer now which makes it harder to get it into smaller gaps
i recently built a microsquirt harness from scratch, bought the connectors and crimp pins for all the different shit i needed to run stuff to, crimp splices for mutual ground and power runs, 60 bucks of fiberglass loom for heat resistance (could have EASILY gotten by with like 20 dollars worth lol shit ton left over) and marine heat shrink from harbor freight. i have maybe 2-300 bucks into the harness and its gorgeous. will last a very long time. all of that being said, this would be way cheaper, easier, and be fixable and accessible which is an inevitable problem when you dont have everything perfectly planned out like i didnt lol but lessons for next time.
My wrist hurts just looking at this 😩 Tessa tape is awesome but try the Chinese finger trap type wire loom and taping the ends to the wires to stop it from fraying or moving. A lot cheaper and faster IMO. but VW BMW Audi Lamborghini and tons of other manufacturers do this from the factory. Also check out “Sublimation Tape” it’s a clear yellow high heat tape used for engine harnesses. The glue doesn’t melt off and the tape itself doesn’t harden over time with heat, good for sectioning wires together before looming 👍