I guess because they don't take the time to understand the principles and don't wanna pay someone else to do it right. I've found few people willing to do auto electrical work right, so I do it myself. Few things bug me more than a butchered up factory harness. I've spent a lot of time correcting the wiring on my Fords, hiding the repairs and making it all look factory. Just my preference.
The Jetta is coming along. Learned this the hard way - before Texas will transfer a title on an out of state car, the car must pass a Texas safety inspection. Ridiculous. I had to repair the parking brake with new cables (cheap!) and install a replacement PB lever from a Cabriolet - took a while to find the right lever 'cause I'm still on the A1/A2 VW interchange learning curve - and fix brake lights (corrosion on contacts). The original engine cooling fan was on it's last leg, so I installed a new Bosch fan and motor. The new unit won't activate (bench tested OK), still need to analyze/resolve that. The horn doesn't work. Once those issues are repaired and all the legal stuff is dealt with - it rolls. The car is parked at a friend's 20 miles away (he was close to the seller) and that distance slows my progress. I just don't want to have it towed home. Except for the trip to the inspection station, I won't drive it with no plates/registration/inspection. Them is some tickets I don't need.
Most of the replacement parts have come from this place. I'm amazed at what's still available and cheap!
http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/autopartsplace/year-make.jsp?PBJ=060424_163343_0553581126_APP
Once I get it street legal and at home I'll have more time to make progress dealing with the electrical drain (I did remove every relay and fuse - still had the drain - suspect it's under the hood), install a new timing belt, check out the A/C, shifter upgrades, etc. It's encouraging that the engine runs great as is.
My factory shifter is so worn it has trouble getting into first gear. One cool set of parts that will be installed soon is a "Missing Linkz" teflon shifter repair/improvement kit. The factory replacement shifter parts looked pretty cheap to me. The ML stuff shortens the shift throws and improves feel. Soon my commute is gonna be 40 miles one way so I'll be shifting a lot. This kit seemed to be the way to go. I received the parts last week and it is quality stuff. Highly recommended if you have a manual trans.
http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/ForSale/ShiftLinkage.shtml
