body harness

[BradGTV]

main power for headlights and alternator burnt out in my gtv the other day. not sure why but suspect it shorted out somewhere ?

i have another body harness from my 85 gtv that i want to swap over, when doing so is it recommended that i remove the dash to make things easier and re install the harness neater? or can one get away with laying under there and doing the swap?

iam a little reluctant to do the swap as the problem might be caused by something else and the harness melt again. anyone have suggestions / thoughts what could cause this sort of problem?
cheers, brad (not a fan of electrics)

[Fylnn]

Brad,

Having removed and reinstalled a harness, I would think it much, much easier to remove the dash.  It is surprisingly easy.  There are screws down on the lower side in front of the doors, and if you carefully prise the top vents off and remove the trunking you can access the retaining screws.  You will need to remove the instruments and some screws holding it to the centre console and from memory it then comes free.  There will no doubt be a few more connections like in the glovebox.  Then you have unrestricted access.

The centre console and heater box is a whole other world of hurt so I would leave them if you could.  I doubt you could change the harness hanging upside down underneath.