SERVICE

BULLETIN
NUMBER:
DATE:
MODEL:

SB-724-006
2/22/02
All
V-MAC III
except LE,
MR

(Also applies to Mack Trucks Australia)

J1939 OVERLAY HARNESS FOR SERVICE USE

A service replacement overlay harness for the J1939 CAN line is available through the
MACK Parts System for V-MAC III CX, CV, CH, CL, DM, DMM, RD and RB model
vehicles. This overlay harness eliminates the need to replace the complete main cab
harness should a problem with the J1939 line be encountered. The harness includes all the
necessary terminal ends, connector bodies and heat shrink tubing. Part numbers for the
overlay harnesses are as follows:
Part No.

Description

1916-8000005

Harness, overlay, J1939 line, vehicles with ABS/ATC

1916-8000006

Harness, overlay, J1939 line, vehicles without ABS/ATC

Procedures for installing the J1939 overlay harness are as follows:

Installing Harness Part No. 1916-8000005 (Vehicles with ABS/ATC)
1

Figure 1 Overlay Harness Part No. 1916-8000005 (ABS/ATC-Equipped Vehicles)

SB-724-006 Page 1 of 10
SERVICE PUBLICATIONS, ALLENTOWN, PA 18105

MACK TRUCKS, INC. 2002

1. Disconnect the batteries by disconnecting the negative battery cable first, then the
positive cable.
2. Access the V-MAC III Vehicle Electronic Control Unit (VECU). (On all models
excluding DM and DMM, the VECU is located below the dashboard, behind the rider's
side kick panel. On DM and DMM models, the VECU is located on the left-hand side of
the vehicle, mounted by the engine cover inside the cab.)
3. Remove the dashboard panels as required to access the main cab wiring harness.
4. Disconnect the J3 connector from the VECU.
5. Use the appropriate terminal end removal tool included in the V-MAC Terminal
Removal/Installation Kit, tool No. J 44786, to remove the J1939 yellow wire (VJ3-1-0.8,
or VJ3-1-0.5 if the original J1939 line is a three-wire harness) from cavity 1, green wire
(VJ3-2-0.8, or VJ3-2-0.5 if the original J1939 line is a three-wire harness) from cavity 2
and the bare wire (VJ3-3-0.5 if utilized) from cavity 3 of the connector body.
2

Figure 2 VECU Connector VJ3

6. Disconnect the power supply harness from the ABS ECU (18-pin on Meritor WABCO
D-Full Versions and Eaton systems, and 15-pin on Meritor WABCO D-Basic and E
versions). Use the appropriate terminal end removal tool included in the V-MAC
Terminal Removal/Installation Kit, tool No. J 44786, to remove the J1939 green wire
(VJ3-2A-0.8, or VJ3-2A-0.5 if the original J1939 line is a three-wire harness) from
cavity 1, yellow wire (VJ3-1A-0.8, or VJ3-1A-0.5 if the original J1939 line is a three-wire
harness) from cavity 3 and the bare wire (VJ3-3-0.5 if utilized) from cavity 2 of the
connector body.

SB-724-006 Page 2 of 10

If the J1939 harness is a two-wire harness (yellow and green

wires) without the bare wire, cavity 2 of the 15-pin ABS ECU
power supply harness is occupied by wire No. ABS-PS2-0.8. Do
not remove this wire.
7. If the vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled transmission, disconnect the
J1939 connector from the transmission ECU pigtail harness.
8. Cut off the J1939 harness wires at convenient locations where the wires enter the main
cab harness.
9. Open the hood and disconnect the J1939 harness connector from the engine harness
connector. Cut the J1939 engine connector from the cab side of the harness and
discard, then pull the J1939 harness wires through the bulkhead grommet and into the
cab. Cut the wires at a convenient location where the J1939 harness wires enter the
main cab harness.
10. Route the new J1939 overlay harness (part No. 1916-8000005) along the main cab
harness. Use tie wraps (part No. 48RU2313P4) to secure the overlay harness to the
main cab harness. When routing the overlay harness, use caution to avoid sharp
edges and moving parts.
11. Route the engine leg of the overlay harness through the bulkhead grommet.
12. After the engine leg of the overlay harness has been routed through the bulkhead
grommet, slide the heat shrink tubing (supplied with the overlay harness) over the
wires. Install the connector body (supplied with the overlay harness) as follows:
3

Figure 3 J1939 Cab-Side Engine Harness Connector Installation

Insert yellow wire (VJ3-1-0.8, or VJ3-1-0.5 if the original J1939 line was a threewire harness) into connector cavity A.

Insert green wire (VJ3-2-0.8, or VJ3-2-0.5 if the original J1939 line was a threewire harness) into connector cavity B.

Insert the bare wire (VJ3-3-0.5) into connector cavity C, only if a bare wire had
been used with the original harness.

SB-724-006 Page 3 of 10

If a bare wire was NOT USED with the original J1939 harness,
DO NOT USE THE BARE WIRE of the overlay harness. Either
fold the wire back and secure it to the harness with tie wraps, or
cut it off.
13. Slide the heat shrink tubing over the connector body and use a suitable heat source to
shrink the tube in place.
14. Install the blue wedge lock into the connector body, then connect the overlay harness
connector to the engine harness connector.
15. Insert the wires into the VECU J3 connector body as follows:
4

Figure 4 J3 Connector Harness Wire Installation

Insert the yellow wire (VJ3-1-0.8, or VJ3-1-0.5 if the original J1939 line was a
three-wire harness) into J3 connector cavity 1.

Insert the green wire (VJ3-2-0.8, or VJ3-1-0.5 if the original J1939 line was a
three-wire harness) into J3 connector cavity 2.

Insert the bare wire (VJ3-3-0.5) into J3 connector cavity 3, only if a bare wire had
been used with the original J1939 harness.

If a bare wire was NOT USED with the original J1939 harness,
DO NOT USE THE BARE WIRE of the overlay harness. Either
fold the wire back and secure it to the harness with a tie wrap, or
cut it off.

SB-724-006 Page 4 of 10

16. Insert the overlay harness terminal ends into the ABS ECU power supply harness
connector as follows:

Insert green wire (VJ3-2A-0.8, or VJ3-2A-0.5 if the original J1939 line was a threewire harness) into cavity 1 of the ABS power supply connector.

Insert yellow wire (VJ3-1A-0.8, or VJ3-1A-0.5 if the original J1939 line was a
three-wire harness) into cavity 3 of the ABS power supply connector.

Insert bare wire (VJ3-3A-0.5) into cavity 2 of the ABS power supply connector only
if a bare wire had been used with the original J1939 harness.

If a bare wire was NOT USED with the original J1939 harness,
DO NOT USE THE BARE WIRE of the overlay harness. Either
fold the wire back and secure it to the harness with a tie wrap, or
cut it off.
17. If equipped with an electronic transmission, connect the J1939 electronic transmission
harness connector to the transmission ECU pigtail harness. If not equipped with an
electronic transmission, insulate the harness connector with electrical tape and use a
tie wrap to secure the connector to the main cab harness.

The J1939 overlay harness is only available in one length to

cover a variety of chassis models. On certain models
(particularly DM and DMM models), there may be an excess
length of wire after the installation is complete. In these cases,
coil the extra length of wire together and use a tie wrap to secure
the coil to the main harness.
18. Reinstall all dash panels that had been removed previously.
19. Reconnect the batteries by connecting the positive cable first, and then the negative
cable.
20. Using the V-MAC III Service Support Software, reset the date and time.
21. Before placing the vehicle back into service, test the V-MAC system and ABS/ATC
functions. Clear any codes in either system.

SB-724-006 Page 5 of 10

Installing Harness Part No. 1916-8000006 (Vehicles without ABS/ATC)

5

Figure 5 Overlay Harness Part No. 1916-8000006 (Vehicles without ABS/ATC)

1. Disconnect the batteries by disconnecting the negative battery cable first, then the
positive cable.
2. Access the V-MAC III Vehicle Electronic Control Unit (VECU). (On all models
excluding DM and DMM, the VECU is located below the dashboard, behind the rider's
side kick panel. On DM and DMM models, the VECU is located on the left-hand side of
the vehicle, mounted by the engine cover inside the cab.)
3. Remove the dashboard panels as required to access the main cab wiring harness.

SB-724-006 Page 6 of 10

4. Disconnect the J3 connector from the VECU.

5. Use the appropriate terminal end removal tool included in the V-MAC Terminal
Removal/Installation Kit, tool No. J 44786, to remove the J1939 yellow wire (VJ3-1-0.8,
or VJ3-1-0.5 if the original J1939 line is a three-wire harness) from cavity 1, green wire
(VJ3-2-0.8, or VJ3-2-0.5 if the original J1939 line is a three-wire harness) from cavity 2
and the bare wire (VJ3-3-0.5 if utilized) from cavity 3 of the connector body.
6

Figure 6 VECU Connector VJ3

6. If the vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled transmission, disconnect the

J1939 connector from the transmission ECU pigtail harness.
7. Cut off the J1939 harness wires at convenient locations where the wires enter the main
cab harness.
8. Open the hood and disconnect the J1939 harness connector from the engine harness
connector. Cut the J1939 engine connector from the cab side of the harness and
discard, and then pull the J1939 harness wires through the bulkhead grommet and into
the cab. Cut the wires at a convenient location where the J1939 harness wires enter
the main cab harness
9. Route the new J1939 overlay harness (part No. 1916-8000006) along the main cab
harness. Use tie wraps (part No. 48RU2313P4) to secure the overlay harness to the
main cab harness. When routing the overlay harness, use caution to avoid sharp
edges and moving parts.
10. Route the engine leg of the overlay harness through the bulkhead grommet.

SB-724-006 Page 7 of 10

11. After the engine leg of the overlay harness has been routed through the bulkhead
grommet, slide the heat shrink tubing (supplied with the overlay harness) over the
wires. Install the connector body (supplied with the overlay harness) as follows:
7

Figure 7 J1939 Cab-Side Engine Harness Connector Installation

Insert yellow wire (VJ3-1-0.8, or VJ3-1-0.5 if the original J1939 line was a threewire harness) into connector cavity A.

Insert green wire (VJ3-2-0.8, or VJ3-2-0.5 if the original J1939 line was a threewire harness) into connector cavity B.

Insert the bare wire (VJ3-3-0.5) into connector cavity C, only if a bare wire had
been used with the original harness.

If a bare wire was NOT USED with the original J1939 harness,
DO NOT USE THE BARE WIRE of the overlay harness. Either
fold the wire back and secure it to the harness with tie wraps, or
cut it off.
12. Slide the heat shrink tubing over the connector body and use a suitable heat source to
shrink the tube in place.
13. Install the blue wedge lock into the connector body, and then connect the overlay
harness connector to the engine harness connector.

SB-724-006 Page 8 of 10

14. Insert the wires into the VECU J3 connector body as follows:
8

Figure 8 J3 Connector Harness Wire Installation

Insert the yellow wire (VJ3-1-0.8, or VJ3-1-0.5 if the original J1939 line was a
three-wire harness) into J3 connector cavity 1.

Insert the green wire (VJ3-2-0.8, or VJ3-1-0.5 if the original J1939 line was a
three-wire harness) into J3 connector cavity 2.

Insert the bare wire (VJ3-3-0.5) into J3 connector cavity 3, only if a bare wire had
been used with the original J1939 harness.

If a bare wire was NOT USED with the original J1939 harness,
DO NOT USE THE BARE WIRE of the overlay harness. Either
fold the wire back and secure it to the harness with a tie wrap, or
cut it off.
15. If equipped with an electronic transmission, connect the J1939 electronic transmission
harness connector to the transmission ECU pigtail harness. If not equipped with an
electronic transmission, insulate the harness connector with electrical tape and use a
tie wrap to secure the connector to the main cab harness.

The J1939 overlay harness is only available in one length to

cover a variety of chassis models. On certain models
(particularly the DM and DMM models), there may be an excess
length of wire after the installation is complete. In these cases,
coil the extra length of wire together and use a tie wrap to secure
the coil to the main harness.
16. Reinstall all dash panels that had been removed previously.
17. Reconnect the batteries by connecting the positive cable first, and then the negative
cable.

SB-724-006 Page 9 of 10

18. Using the V-MAC III Service Support Software, reset the date and time.
19. Before placing the vehicle back into service, test the V-MAC system and clear any
codes in the system.
The labor code and maximum labor allowance for installation of the J1939 overlay service
harness are as follows:
724 2A 2T 80 .....................................................

1.0 hr.

Time to install J1939 overlay service harness

SB-724-006 Page 10 of 10