Replacing tail-light/brake light and turn signals

[EV11Jack]

Hi all, Well, I had my bike in a local shop trying to fix the oil leak in the air temperature sensor. They never did help me and I fixed it myself with a donated part from RinkRat and advise from the wonderful members on this forum. They informed me that the tail light/brake light/turn signal assembly was broken when I dripped it off. I know that it wasn't but, what can you do? It' my word agains their mechanics'!
Anyhow it was wrecked beyond 'just replacing the bracket', so I ordered a full assembly from MG Cycles ($155.00  aaarrrggghhh)!
My wife said that it came yesterday (I'm traveling again). Here is my question: She said that there is a long cable with a white (Molex) type connector on it. She looked at the broken unit and "traced" the cable from it. It runs up the underside of the rear fender then disappears under the passenger seat. When I ordered it, the web-site said: "Note that the wire terminal connector may not match all models". Since I'm not home and haven't looked at it yet I'm thinking about how to replace it. Should I pull the seat(s) and follow the old cable to detach it from it's connecting home and hope my new unit will plug right in OR leave it in place and disconnect each wire from it's end termination and then connect them to the same place on the new assembly?
Has anyone done this on a 98 EV11 and know which is the best method to follow? If anyone has done this, are there any additional things that I should be aware of or consider?
cheers,
Jack

[AZRider]

As though you didn't know, 97 & 98 EV's are odd bikes, in the midst of the transformation from the Cal 1100's to the 99-and-newer models, kind of like a pollywog: Half tadpole, half frog. And they're not all at the same point in the transformation.

On my 98 EV's, the tail light wire connection under the seat is via round rubber connectors. Yours may be like mine, square Molex like the MGCycle part, or something different.

I have left the cable through the fender and pulled all of the wiring out of the taillight assembly on one of mine, and it is a PITA. But so is pulling out the rubber plugs where the taillight cable passes through the fender and getting them back in with the new cable. Your choice of which will make you crazier.

The Third Way is what I did with my customized EV: Cut the plugs off of the the seat end of the cable, and install new connectors after the wiring is fished through the fender. If you have the tools and skills to make good, reliable, weathertight and long-lasting connectors, this is the way to go.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Whenever I'm crimping cables or connecting wires in a wet area like the tail light I always dip the wires or connectors in Vaseline
I would try and use the new wire as much as possible.

[Diploman]

Posi-Lock connectors are inexpensive, simple, easy to use, and when covered with a length of shrink wrap, are impregnable to water.  Highly recommended.