Are Automotive Connectors Worth It?

In the last century, cars have become a part of our daily lives. Each car is made up of thousands of parts, and to make our cars work, they all need to work, too. Not only can part failures cause inconvenient breakdowns, but they can also put drivers and passengers at risk and to costly manufacturer recalls. Automotive components must operate reliably, and they need to do so in a wide range of temperatures and environments.

Automotive-grade electrical connectors: Invisible but critical to vehicle function
Given their vital responsibility to our safety and overall well-being, all automotive electrical components must be able to withstand the cold, heat, and rugged terrain. Not surprisingly, the electronics that make up your vehicle require extensive testing, including connectors and cables that are invisible in modern vehicles.

Maintaining quality auto parts
Ford, Toyota, GM, and many other manufacturers "build" their cars by collecting parts from a variety of suppliers and assembling them into finished products. While these manufacturers are technically dependent on suppliers to maintain their reputations, the manufacturers have a large market share. This advantage allows companies such as Toyota to hold their suppliers to strict quality standards.

For more information on the general requirements for automotive connectors, a good starting point is a USCAR2-7 specification developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the U.S. Automotive Research Council.

It is important to know the background information for each connector's specific application to ensure that each component has been adequately tested. For this purpose, the component manufacturer defines classes for the following variables.