Electrical connector assembly with flexible and rigid terminal locking features

A method of assembling an electrical connector, comprising:

• providing a connector housing having a terminal cavity extending therethrough from a first opening to a second opening and a fixed terminal lock nib that projects inwardly into the terminal cavity from a rigid first wall;
• inserting a terminal retainer within the connector housing and arranging it proximate the first opening, wherein the terminal retainer includes a flexible terminal lock arm having a moveable terminal lock nib that projects inwardly into the terminal cavity from the flexible terminal lock arm;
• removably attaching the terminal retainer to the connector housing via a flexible retaining arm;
• inserting an electrical terminal defining a pair of retaining ridges into the terminal cavity though the second opening;
• and
• engaging a first ridge of the pair of retaining ridges with the fixed terminal lock and engaging a second ridge of the pair of retaining ridges with the moveable terminal lock nib, thereby inhibiting removal of the electrical terminal from the terminal cavity through the second opening.

An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

• an electrical terminal defining a pair of retaining ridges;
• a connector housing having a terminal cavity extending therethrough from a first opening to a second opening and a fixed terminal lock nib that projects inwardly into the terminal cavity from a rigid first wall configured to engage a first ridge of the pair of retaining ridges and a flexible terminal lock arm having a moveable terminal lock nib that projects inwardly into the terminal cavity from the flexible terminal lock arm and configured to engage a second ridge of the pair of retaining ridges of the electrical terminal, thereby inhibiting removal of the electrical terminal from the terminal cavity through the second opening;
• and
• a terminal retainer inserted within the connector housing located proximate the first opening and removably retained to the connector housing by a flexible retaining arm, wherein the terminal retainer further includes a blocking member inserted between the flexible terminal lock arm and the connector housing, thereby inhibiting disengagement of the moveable terminal lock nib from the second ridge.