The anti-heat tape around the engine wiring harness seems to have disentigrated - right now the wires are being held together by that black protective tubing commonly found on cars. Is this a problem/should I worry about wires melting? I assume that it is because the heat tape was there in the first place. Where can I find this protective tape/shielding? (My local part store doesn't carry anything like that)

Thanks

rodneydickman.com Under electral first item

my harness has started to melt because that stuff is gone on my car to. I just put some metal tape that is used on heat ducts on it and its been doing the job so far...

DEI makes a very good insulating wrap that attaches with Velcro. It will go around a 1" diameter bundle of wire and you don't need to slip it OVER the wires since it wraps around it. I use a couple of hose clamps sometimes if I'm not sure it's going to stay on it's own, but that's not often. It is a little pricey ($30) but a lot cheaper and easier than a new wiring harness.

John Stricker

These should cover most of what your needing:

http://www.thermotec.com/products/full/14005/14005.html

http://www.thermotec.com/products/full/17062/17062.html

http://www.thermotec.com/products/full/14300/14300.html

http://www.thermotec.com/products/full/14200/14200.html

http://www.thermotec.com/products/full/14260/14260.html

quote Originally posted by Fiero2m41: my harness has started to melt because that stuff is gone on my car to. I just put some metal tape that is used on heat ducts on it and its been doing the job so far...

You are a braver man than I am. I have about 300 yards of that 2" aluminum Fasson "Fastape" and considered using it till I realized it's properties. It was designed for only one thing-heating/AC ductwork. For our Fiero uses, it has limitations and will (may) make things worse than no wrap at all.
1. Virtually no insulation value. You want either some air space or an insulating material between the reflective face and the wires/hoses/cables. I believe #2 explains it better.
2. Altho it may reflect some radiant heat, it is aluminum, therefore a great conductor of other types of heat -right into whatever you cover it with. Since the wire loom is covered, that heat will stay there with no way to escape as long as more heat is being transferred to it.
3. It is a true metallic, and an electrical conductor. Not the best thing to be covering wires with. I certainly wouldn't expect good results wrapping plug wires with it--not that you did.

Now, if you were to 1st wrap some insulation around your harness or shift cables, with some type of 'R' value, you probably would be ok.
just my 2 cents worth of worthless opinion, but I'd hate to hear your car burned up.
In the 2nd pic, you can see the underside with the right upper corner of the paper backer peeled back. Nothing there but a thin film of adhesive.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 06-12-2005).]