Broken wire?

[mr_man]

almost two weeks ago when i was changing my oil, i noticed a wire that was disconected in my engine compartment. it's on the driver's side and is a bluish green color(mine is dirty and a little singed). i can see where it broke off where it's connected to the car (inside wheel well on drivers side) but i couldn't see where it goes to the engine. it seems to be made of woven copper. mine is flat, but looks like it was pulled flat, and very brittle. I actually broke about a 6 inch section off trying to follow it to the engine. Does anybody know what this wire does, where it goes to, if it's hurting my car not being connected, and how to fix it? I've been on vacation since i found it that's why i'm first posting now.

[mr_man]

anyone?

[2001 Green machine]

First , check that everything is still working, wipers washer pump ,lights, signals and anything else electrical that you can think of... this could lead you to what the wire is for.
To repair it you have two options.

1. get some wire of the same guage and type and solder it in to replace the section that is missing, make sure to tape well or better yet put heat shrink on it to protect the repair.

2. as above, but use solderless connectors to make the repair, the crimp type connectors.This is not as solid of a repair but it will work.

Also you say it is bluish green in color, and appears to be woven copper. Is it an insulated wire, like has plastic or rubber coating? If not it is an engine ground strap and will need to be replaced completely.

Hope this helps... Good luck.
John

[mr_man]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 2001 Green machine:
Also you say it is bluish green in color, and appears to be woven copper. Is it an insulated wire, like has plastic or rubber coating? If not it is an engine ground strap and will need to be replaced completely.
John<hr></blockquote>

It does look like it was coated, it just is kinda melted to the wire. everything on my car works, with one exception, twice i have lost all power to my vehicle, nothing worked. when i tried to start nothing happened, no noise, but if i held the key in the start positions about 10 seconds later it started. As far as replaceing the wire i'm having a hard time following it back, it is extremely brittle and i don't want to break it off as i did once. thanks for the help, i'm going to go try and locate it again.

[2001 Green machine]

If it's coated, simply cut it back to where it is good and splice it in as I explained. Can you see both ends where the break is? If you have a piece thats good you should cut a bit off and take it with you to compare. Don't try to splice it if you don't have two good ends to splice or it will fail.

[mr_man]

i can see where it connects to my car, but i can't find where it goes to the engine, it is in very bad condition (fried) so i think i'll have to replace it.

[2001 Green machine]

Where does it connect to on the car?

[OnixV6]

got pics? i tried looking under the hood basing from your descriptions but all my wires are in wirelooms.

[mr_man]

i'll try and get a pic of where it connects to the car you won't be able to see the wire because i broke it off trying to follow it (extremely brittle),my loss of power was do to loose battery connection(friend changed battery, while i was cleaning air filter :mad: )