lone brown wire by alt

ztim · 05-16-2007, 01:29 AM

There is a wire bundle going to something that is mounted on the same bracket with the alternator. It has some sort of linkage going under the air filter. The wire bundle is plugged into that thing and has one lone wire half way down the bundle sticking out. I though it may go to the alt, but when I grounded it the check engine light came on. I looked my Haynes manual but it does not say anything that I can find. Any ideas? Thanks

Oldsguy · 05-16-2007, 05:08 AM

It might be a sending wire for an unused accessory like full insturments. Does you car have full insturments of idiot lights? This is just an idea, hopefully someone can refere to a wiring diagram and let you know for sure. Since the check engine light came on when you grounded it, it probably is a sending wire which needs a ground to operate, if it had a voltage it would have probably blown a fuse. None of the fuses have blown have they?

ztim · 05-16-2007, 09:04 AM

I have a full compliment of lights. None of the fuses have blown as far as I can tell.

I went fishing this morning. Darn engin overheated again. Hmmmph.

joe_padavano · 05-16-2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ztim

There is a wire bundle going to something that is mounted on the same bracket with the alternator. It has some sort of linkage going under the air filter. The wire bundle is plugged into that thing and has one lone wire half way down the bundle sticking out. I though it may go to the alt, but when I grounded it the check engine light came on. I looked my Haynes manual but it does not say anything that I can find. Any ideas? Thanks

First, what car and what engine. Over the last hundred years or so, Olds used lots of different "sort of linkage" things.

Having said that, what you've described sounds like the cruise control actuator. There should be a four or five wire plug and a vacuum hose going to it and a rod about 5/16" in diameter going to the carb lever. Is that what we're talking about?

ztim · 05-16-2007, 04:03 PM

Yes! That's exactly what it looks like. It is also something else that does not work. Ha.. So if the wire coming out of that wire group, could it be causing a light in the dash? I will go outside right now and look for a vacuum hose around there. I'll come back in and let you know what I found. It is 7pm EST.

ztim · 05-16-2007, 05:03 PM

I'll have to check it out tomorrow. I can take the plastic wrap from around the wires and see where that brown one goes. I will also check out the shape the hoses are in. They look okay as far as I can tell. Thanks!

joe_padavano · 05-16-2007, 06:57 PM

Your cruise control servo should have a four wire plug - green, blue w/white stripe, light blue w/black stripe, and tan. None of these should trigger a dashboard light if grounded.

There is also a brown wire that should go to the alternator. This wire illuminates the "charge" idiot light on the dash if grounded. Sounds like it may not be hooked up properly. In addition to the large wire (or wires) held onto a threaded stud with a nut, your alternator should have a plug with two smaller wires, one red and the other this brown wire. See if that's hooked up properly.

Oldsguy · 05-17-2007, 05:07 AM

I think you hit it on the head Joe, I forgot about that one, also the cruise servo........what's my name? where am I?

05-16-2007, 01:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
ztim Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: SC Posts: 234	lone brown wire by alt There is a wire bundle going to something that is mounted on the same bracket with the alternator. It has some sort of linkage going under the air filter. The wire bundle is plugged into that thing and has one lone wire half way down the bundle sticking out. I though it may go to the alt, but when I grounded it the check engine light came on. I looked my Haynes manual but it does not say anything that I can find. Any ideas? Thanks

05-16-2007, 05:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 2,757	It might be a sending wire for an unused accessory like full insturments. Does you car have full insturments of idiot lights? This is just an idea, hopefully someone can refere to a wiring diagram and let you know for sure. Since the check engine light came on when you grounded it, it probably is a sending wire which needs a ground to operate, if it had a voltage it would have probably blown a fuse. None of the fuses have blown have they? __________________ Dan '46 2 door

05-16-2007, 06:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
joe_padavano Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,423	Your cruise control servo should have a four wire plug - green, blue w/white stripe, light blue w/black stripe, and tan. None of these should trigger a dashboard light if grounded. There is also a brown wire that should go to the alternator. This wire illuminates the "charge" idiot light on the dash if grounded. Sounds like it may not be hooked up properly. In addition to the large wire (or wires) held onto a threaded stud with a nut, your alternator should have a plug with two smaller wires, one red and the other this brown wire. See if that's hooked up properly. __________________ Joe Padavano 64 Jetstar 88 Conv 66 442 L-69 Conv 68 W-30 69 H/O 69 442 70 W-30 72 442 84 Custom Cruiser 86 Caprice wagon (w/307 Olds)

05-17-2007, 05:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 2,757	I think you hit it on the head Joe, I forgot about that one, also the cruise servo........what's my name? where am I? __________________ Dan '46 2 door

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05-16-2007, 09:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
ztim Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: SC Posts: 234	I have a full compliment of lights. None of the fuses have blown as far as I can tell. I went fishing this morning. Darn engin overheated again. Hmmmph.

05-16-2007, 04:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
ztim Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: SC Posts: 234	Yes! That's exactly what it looks like. It is also something else that does not work. Ha.. So if the wire coming out of that wire group, could it be causing a light in the dash? I will go outside right now and look for a vacuum hose around there. I'll come back in and let you know what I found. It is 7pm EST.

05-16-2007, 05:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
ztim Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: SC Posts: 234	I'll have to check it out tomorrow. I can take the plastic wrap from around the wires and see where that brown one goes. I will also check out the shape the hoses are in. They look okay as far as I can tell. Thanks!