Short circuit hazard

[Mark Woodland]

Greetings folks,
After several months of semi-dead quattro (Max, '87 5KTQ, 235k), I tied up
the loose ends this weekend and he's better than ever. ( Thank you all for
diagnostic aids, offers of parts and moral support).
New Injectors,fuel distributor (165k used..) and new filter(s) air/gas.
In the process of replacing the radio antenna, I discovered that the  trunk
lid electrical harness was in bad shape where it enters the trunk lid
support tubing, at the hinge point. The black cloth/adhesive wrap was coming
apart, and under that, the wiring insulation was cracking, coming off,
exposing bare conductors.
I pulled the green plastic "locator" band, that fixed the harness in one
position, pulled 5" of the black cloth wrapping and individually wrapped
each wire with thin electrical tape, then tape/wrapped the whole bundle.
Without the green plastic "locator" the whole harness is accepting the
"load" of bending, as the trunk lid closes, rather than the 2" section, as
original, where all of the bending stress was focused.
The backup lights, license plate lights, rear fogs,(if ya got em) and a
bunch 'o ground wires go through this bundle. Though it hadn't happened
(yet), it would have been a prime candidate for a short, as there was quite
a bit of exposed copper, just waiting to "happen".
Makes me think that the wagon hatch harness should be scrutinized soon..
(225k).
Hope this helps someone avert unexplained torment...
Mark
P.S. If anyone received one of those 4KQ spoiler on a 5KTQ pics, could you
be so kind as to forward me one?
Thanks

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