Can I swap wiring harness models?

[CondeContar]

Hi all

I have an A4 2002 that's amazing but keeping it running has become a love hate-thing. I've had to change a dozen parts over the past 18 months and the latest problem the car's had is that the wiring harness is fried up, so I need to change it. I am really reluctant to forking out $1000+ for a new harness given the amount of money I've already put into the car and the resell value it might achieve if I decide that I've taken enough abuse.

My mechanic (and myself with my limited resources) can't find the exact harness model for the car, and we've been looking for about a month! (I live in Mexico...) . I'm getting desperate, and the thing is, there isn't much I can do with a car that doesn't run. My question to you fine people is, is it possible to use a harness that is close enough even if it isn't the exact same model? The model the car needs is 8E1 971 072 JD, and I can see a bunch of harnesses on sale on ebay (US and Europe), but none with this code. There are several 8E1 971 072 ** harnesses out there, but I don't know if any of them might work. The mechanic says we can't use anything except the JD model, but tbh I no longer trust him (my car is in his shop because some previous work he did needed an extra warranty-sponsored adjustment, and then the harness thing happened).

Thanks

David M

[diagnosticator]

Are you referring to the engine compartment wiring harness? Audi part numbers can have different suffix letters for many reasons, anywhere from a different part altogether, or only a minor change in material, vendor or other important to the factory reasons, where the part is functionally the same as earlier suffix part numbers.

A wiring harness from an A4 B6 with the same engine and transmission, halogen or Xenon OE headlights etc, with a different part number suffix, will be functionally equivalent.

The wiring harness is comprised of a main engine harness, different for each engine, an add on harness for manual or auto transmission, and other add-on wiring harnesses depending on the optional equipment your A4 was built with.

[CondeContar]

Thanks!

yeah, I was referring to the engine compartment wiring harness. This is good news. I'll broaden the search to try and find something that might fit. much appreciated.

[refueler]

I have one from a 2004 1.8 with 6spd manual par# 8E1 971 072 PB with or without ECU