Chewed wires...wt?

[Jimmyvonviggle]

So I was just under the car today poking around and notice these red wires near the master cylinder. They look like they have been enjoyed by the previous four legged occupants. Can anybody tell me what they are, and if they are original or a PO wiring job.

Thanks.


Btw the image is upside down and dark, don't know why that is.

[DMCMW Dave]

Probably the wires that go to the brake master filler cap. If they are there and working, it lights up the brake light on the dash when fluid is low.

[David T]

Probably the wires that go to the brake master filler cap. If they are there and working, it lights up the brake light on the dash when fluid is low.

The wires going to the level warning are supposed to be black. It is possible someone did some rewiring but the more likely explanation is some additional wiring for maybe an alarm or cruise control. Follow them. If they do not go into a harness you can probably cut them loose. If you had critters eating wires you should check the fusebox area and the front facia for further damage. They seem to LOVE to eat the bag for the jack and lug wrench. If you do find additional damage you should disinfect the area and use personal protection before trying to repair the damage.
David Teitelbaum

[Ryan King]

No joke...mine were like this not more then 2 weeks ago. I just repaired mine as well. Luckily they didn't chew anything else up around there.

[Jonathan]

2171521716

I have/had both red and black wires in that area, Barry. You can see the black ones going to the sensor on top of the brake fluid reservoir and then you can also see the red ones bunched together. They used to go to some sort of mechanical siren/security device that a PO had installed. It got ripped out tout suite.

[Jimmyvonviggle]

Thanks for the replies, I will trace them and see where they lead.

[Jimmyvonviggle]

Ok so I was under my car and I traced those chewed wires from the front of the car all the way up to that electrical junction next to the coil in the engine compartment. I find it strange that these wires run underneath the car tucked in at spots. I am assuming that someone attempted something in the past.

Do these wires power or control my fans?

[Jonathan]

Barry, that sounds like it could be a cruise control addition to me. Any other remnants in your car from a past cruise control modification?

[Ron]

Ok so I was under my car and I traced those chewed wires from the front of the car all the way up to that electrical junction next to the coil in the engine compartment. I find it strange that these wires run underneath the car tucked in at spots. I am assuming that someone attempted something in the past.

Do these wires power or control my fans?
Post a pic so we can see exactly what they connected to.

[David T]

Post a pic so we can see exactly what they connected to.

They could have been for fan control, power to the fuel pump, an alarm, etc. Are the wires connected or will the car run without them? If the car runs without them start cutting them loose. Maybe someone had a tachometer hooked up?
David Teitebaum

[Jimmyvonviggle]

Ok here is a pic. What concerns me is the last time I ran my car, I let it idle in my driveway. I revved the engine a few times, and after about 15 mins I started to see coolant leak down under the engine compartment. I quickly ran to shut the car off, and as soon as I did it exploded from the overflow bottle and a tube near by. I haven't started the car since.

So that is why I am concerned maybe the fans are not functioning.

Btw the wire I am referring to is red with the yellow tape.

[Ron]

If it is Red/Purple, it goes between the Frequency Valve and the Main Fuel Relay. Red/Brown goes from the Frequency Valve to the Lambda ECU. Weird!

Yellow wire on the jump post is another mod...

[David T]

If it is Red/Purple, it goes between the Frequency Valve and the Main Fuel Relay. Red/Brown goes from the Frequency Valve to the Lambda ECU. Weird!

Yellow wire on the jump post is another mod...

I see a few pieces of yellow tape. The fans not running can be any # of other things. Jumper the wires on the otterswitch with the key on and see if the fans run. The red wires in question are not original.
David Teitelbaum

[Jimmyvonviggle]

I see a few pieces of yellow tape. The fans not running can be any # of other things. Jumper the wires on the otterswitch with the key on and see if the fans run. The red wires in question are not original.
David Teitelbaum

What is suppose to go in that spot? If it is not original i will gladly remove these wires.

[sdg3205]

My guess is that at some point your inertia switch fried and someone tried to bypass it with the usual fix.

Edit - this would mean they powered your fuel pump with those wires.

[Jimmyvonviggle]

My guess is that at some point your inertia switch fried and someone tried to bypass it with the usual fix.

Edit - this would mean they powered your fuel pump with those wires.


Those red wires go from the engine compartment all the way along the bottom of the car and stop near the master cylinder and fans. The fuel pump does work so it wouldn't be related.

Are you saying that I should unplug those wires and replace it with?....

[sdg3205]

No, I'm just saying that PO's often run power to the pumps that way when inertia switches fail.

[David T]

No, I'm just saying that PO's often run power to the pumps that way when inertia switches fail.

Are the red wires connected to anything at the front of the car? Cut one and see what happens, you can put it back together if you have to. If they ARE being used you should figure out what they are doing and fix it so you can remove them.
David Teitlebaum

[Jimmyvonviggle]

Are the red wires connected to anything at the front of the car? Cut one and see what happens, you can put it back together if you have to. If they ARE being used you should figure out what they are doing and fix it so you can remove them.
David Teitlebaum

They just stop at the front of the car. It ends in excess wiring spooled up(and chewed). What normally gets connected here, or does that spot stay open on other cars?

[jmettee]

Let's be clear, BOTH the red wires with yellow tape AND the yellow wire from the +12V stud in your picture are NOT original. Those are modifications by the previous owner & it's best that you try to figure out what they go to before completely removing them. It sounds like the red wires are not used if they are just coiled & hanging at the front of the car without being connected to anything. However, that 2-pin connector being used by the red wires/yellow tape is for the Frequency Valve in a normally wired car. (refer http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?40-All-Wiring-Schematics&p=52902&viewfull=1#post52902 (HERE) for more info on the bulkhead connectors)

The yellow wire is sending power somewhere, possibly related....but maybe not. Find out where this goes & we can help you figure out some things. [If you have any other wires hanging around the engine, the fans, or the fuel pump that look "non-stock", post more pictures & we can help you sort things out]

[Jimmyvonviggle]

Let's be clear, BOTH the red wires with yellow tape AND the yellow wire from the +12V stud in your picture are NOT original. Those are modifications by the previous owner & it's best that you try to figure out what they go to before completely removing them. It sounds like the red wires are not used if they are just coiled & hanging at the front of the car without being connected to anything. However, that 2-pin connector being used by the red wires/yellow tape is for the Frequency Valve in a normally wired car. (refer http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?40-All-Wiring-Schematics&p=52902&viewfull=1#post52902 (HERE) for more info on the bulkhead connectors)

The yellow wire is sending power somewhere, possibly related....but maybe not. Find out where this goes & we can help you figure out some things. [If you have any other wires hanging around the engine, the fans, or the fuel pump that look "non-stock", post more pictures & we can help you sort things out]

Thanks for the reply that's what I was looking for. I'll let you all know how it goes.