Electrical problems are one of the most common problems in older cars that can affect radios, windshield wipers, and other parts of the car to bigger problems like ignition coils not firing or pumps not being able to do their job.

Electrical fires in cars can be caused by a faulty or rotten wire that can get very hot and possibly ignite material in the car that can instantly burst into flames. A known item is a loose wire connection that is in a terminal, causing overheating or sparks.

As a 1964 Mustang owner, keep in mind that older cars like Mustangs are around 40 years old and even if your Mustang has never been left outside in extreme temperatures, the wiring naturally ages due to dry rot, leaving the exposed and dangerous bare wires and corroded connectors. Especially replace your headlight and turn signal switches, as these are high amperage components and can aggravate your electrical problems if they are not in good condition. There are many aftermarket Mustang parts and accessories and wiring harnesses on the market. The good ones are correctly color-coded and built to exact Ford specifications. There are many resources for classic mustang wiring and some have been making the wiring harnesses for classic mustangs and f-100 pickups for a number of years and are widely distributed by many of the larger mustang companies. You can get wiring directly from auto parts resellers, including those popular online stores like Mac’s Antique Auto Parts, CJ Pony Parts, Mustangs Unlimited, or Scott Drake, to name a few.

If you still have the original harness in the car, leave it there, it may help when installing the new wiring. Begin by unplugging one connector at a time on the old harness and plugging one connector at a time onto the new harness in the exact same location the old one was removed from until the new harness is fully installed. It never hurts to have a wiring schematic, especially if the old harness is missing. These are produced specifically for the year of the Mustang, so if you have a 1966 Mustang, you’ll want a 1966 wiring diagram book. These are available from most Mustang websites for a very cheap price.

Take the time to look into this and check all your existing wiring to prevent a future problem, after all, all your old Mustangs are worth looking after.