Yeah, most all wiring in automobiles use crimped connectors, so they must not be worth a damn. Most connectors fail because they were not properly crimped. You can't crimp a connector with a pair of pliers, or hit it with a hammer.
Solid wire is not a good idea in automobiles for the reason I stated previously. Chevrolet tried it in the 70s and it didn't work.
Solid wire, which is what a solder connection becomes, will break much easier than stranded. Plus, stranded wire will carry more current than solid.
A crimped connection is stronger than a soldered connection. Pull on a piece of solder and see what happens. If you will notice splices on high lines, they are crimped connectors.
A wire here and there that is soldered probably won't be a problem. But, if the wiring job is bigger, I use crimped. Much faster, and a better job.
shady
Ron Francis automotive wiring systems says this:
Tip #45 -Splices are only for when there is no other choice. It should be done properly and with little or no solder. If you add too much solder and make a section of the wire stiff with lead, you will create the same thing as solid wire, which shoud never be used in a vibration filled vehicle.
Tip #47 -If the solder wicks up the wire strands further than the connector itself, the stranded wire is solid, and it will break with vibration. This is why solid core wire is not used on cars.
Tip #48-Only solder large items such as battery cables.
Tip #49-Always crimp the connection, then solder. You want to get air space out, which can trap gasses caused by the solder and cause corrosion.
