Recycled copper wiring?

[pm26]

I found this post on edmunds.com forums and this individual claims that GM trucks built in Mexico use recycled copper wiring vs new copper wiring harnesses or US built trucks. Any truth to this claim? I hope this is not true.

 

 

It seems that Automotive Journalists don't look at the door jams or look at V.I.N. numbers when testing a vehicle. First digit of the V.I.N # is a 3-which means MADE IN MEXICO. GM spent 420 Million Dollars in Re-Tooling a Plant In Mexico for the launch of this 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Seems That TAX PAYERS LIKE ME didn't have a say so in keeping jobs in America. GM claims that they can make as much as $12,000 per vehicle and were looking at maximum profit not our economy or jobs. GM said they are shipping most of the new 2014's to Texas for the big launch of this vehicle. Hey America look at the V.I.N. sticker in the door jam "Hecho in Mexico" This has got to be the biggest scam on the American Taxpayer in recent history. Why wasn't there a clause in the bailout to keep jobs in America? In Mexico they use re-cycled copper wire in the wire harness's which over time creates electrical problems. Trucks made here use new copper wire in the wiring harnesses. Good luck on this scam of taxpayer funded bailout money gone wrong. Good luck with your MADE IN MEXICO CHEVROLET SILVERADO'S AND GMC SIERRA'S.

[MikeNH]

Reeks of BS. Especially given how worthless/uninformed the rest of his statement is. From what I've been able to understand, there usually aren't different suppliers just because a truck is made in Mexico vs. the US. In one of the threads here a member with a Fort Wayne made double cab mentioned seeing "Made in Mexico" stenciled on his springs.

[gmtech4]

sorry but makin money outways patriotism,,,it sucks ,i get it ,,nice rant thou

[RyanbabZ71]

No processes are exactly the same whether its made in the US, Mexico, or Canada

[DaveH71]

Whats wrong with recycled copper? Does copper were out after so many volts? Won't be new virgin copper forever.

[pm26]

Whats wrong with recycled copper? Does copper were out after so many volts? Won't be new virgin copper forever.

I guess he meant installing used wiring in new trucks. The obvious problems with that would be that all insulated wiring deteriorates after years of use, especially the insulation, causing possible short circuits. And it is current, not voltage that "wears out" the wiring, because it is amperes of current that heats the wires, not the potential in Volts.

[DaveH71]

I guess he meant installing used wiring in new trucks. The obvious problems with that would be that all insulated wiring deteriorates after years of use, especially the insulation, causing possible short circuits. And it is current, not voltage that "wears out" the wiring, because it is amperes of current that heats the wires, not the potential in Volts.

 

Did you see the joke go over your head?

[pm26]

 

Did you see the joke go over your head?

I guess I did.

[MikeNH]

I guess he meant installing used wiring in new trucks. The obvious problems with that would be that all insulated wiring deteriorates after years of use, especially the insulation, causing possible short circuits. And it is current, not voltage that "wears out" the wiring, because it is amperes of current that heats the wires, not the potential in Volts.

 

 

Recycled copper is one thing but it is beyond impossible for them to entirely re-use old wiring. The wire lengths, connectors, etc. are all likely unique. Besides whoever wrote that stuff is clearly a moron since GM has made trucks in Mexico for some time and also in Canada previously. Ram makes regular cabs and all HDs in Mexico as well.

[Btuggle88]

I'm not the brightest bulb or the newest copper but don't they have a single supplier or vendor to supply wiring harnessssssssss to them for all their trucks be it made in America or south of the border.

[pm26]

I know that Volkswagen had some serious harness issues in the past with their electrical harnesses made in Mexico, but that was because of inadequate quality control, workmanship issues, and poor testing.

[TxTruckMan]

Ha. Like union made crap is any better. I'll take my Mexican built truck over a union built one any day.

 

And guess what, "copper" doesn't wear out. And it won't over heat if it's sized correctly. Same with wire insulation. Maybe if you're talking about crappy insulated wire from the 40's or something. But wire today is nothing like that.

 

I think the OP and the quoted person are just trying to start more crap up like they usually do.

[pm26]

Ha. Like union made crap is any better. I'll take my Mexican built truck over a union built one any day.

 

And guess what, "copper" doesn't wear out. And it won't over heat if it's sized correctly. Same with wire insulation. Maybe if you're talking about crappy insulated wire from the 40's or something. But wire today is nothing like that.

 

I think the OP and the quoted person are just trying to start more crap up like they usually do.

http://badmercedes.com/

 

Now you know why you should not buy a used Mercedes Benz made between 1992 and 1996.

 

And there is also the dreaded "coolant migration" causing all kinds of electrical problems with VW vehicles:

 

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?2688509-Coolant-migration!-!-Please-help!

 

 

 

Dealer does a deep dive and finds that coolant has migrated from a failed coolant temp sensor through the wiring harness and into the ECU. Current estimate, $3000! Plus, it was this same issue that caused both fuel pumps and the throttle body to go haywire.

 

Now you know why buying certain VW used cars may be very risky.

 

The original posters concern is very valid. There is nothing wrong with using recycled copper in new wiring provided the copper is processed properly and impurities removed. But how do we know how good that process is?

 

I do not believe that GM is using inferior wiring in their vehicles, no matter where they are manufactured. At least I hope they are not.

 

As for your kind comment about me stirring up more crap, I have no affiliation with GM to act as their shill.

[DRS 95 Silverado]

I'm not the brightest bulb or the newest copper but don't they have a single supplier or vendor to supply wiring harnessssssssss to them for all their trucks be it made in America or south of the border.

I'm pretty sure they do. Parts come from US, Mexico, Canada etc. Our old Blazer was built in US, but if you look under the hood it has a lot of parts from Mexico. It's still going.

[kstruckcountry]

MOST metal is recycled. Over 90% of steel is for example. I think what they were insinuating is that GM is reusing wires. It seems asinine to me because that would be more trouble than it's worth.

 

I hadn't read about the vw coolant migration before, really interesting, thanks for posting.