Crimp Connection Insulators

[3505jd]

How can the factory original white plastic crimp connection insulators be removed without destroying them?

[Nut124]

Just about all crimp connector things snap into the insulator and are kept from pulling out by a rearward facing metal "barb" that locks into a recess in the plastic. You can usually pry down this barb from the mating connector side with a thin bladed screwdriver.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Nut124's advice is right on, but some of these plastic connectors just break apart due to years of exposure to the heat in the engine compartment. Replacement is the best option in that case.
https://www.midwest-bayless.com/Fiat-12 ... on-u8.aspx

-Bryan

[spider2081]

Here is a link to a YouTube video that some might find helpful.
One thing not mentioned in the video is that it is often helpful to push in on the wire of the pin that is to be extracted. This removes any tension on the locking tab to the connector shell. Then press the tool being used to depress the tab into the extractors slot. If one pulls on the wire that jams the locking tap into the shell material making it very difficult to depress the tab with the extractor tool. Once the locking tab is depressed then pull back on the wire to remove the contact. A little practice and the routine usually becomes very easy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE-hRjrLuyQ

[3505jd]

The connection insulators I was trying to remove are not the type shown in the video posted by spider208. that type has always been easy to take apart. They are the single wire (sometimes 2 wires crimped together) female type typically connected to Sipea relays.
After futile attempts to remove the insulator, I finally cut one apart. The metal part does not have a 'barb' to lock it in place. Instead the plastic insulator has a moulded in shoulder that locks the metal connector in place. I have concluded that these types were not meant to be taken apart without destroying the plastic part similar to modern day crimp connection insulators.

[spider2081]

understand and agree the single nylon insulated contacts are the most difficult to disassemble with out damaging the nylon shell.
I have found a couple sources for the connector shells and the male and female terminals but have not found a source for the single (one terminal) shell.