What wire is this?
- Thread starter Friday88
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LittleCaesar
New member
If it were me I would undo the tape job and loom, then solder in a new section of 16/18 gauge wire, shrink it, change out the Wired For Life plug wires and then make sure whatever animal came for a bite doesn't return.
Tyler James Inc
Senior Member
Those are grounds for your engine harness. I'm not sure exactly what, but I would guess injectors or coil packs.
If the copper isn't compromised, you can just tape it up tight with some Super 33 and be on your way. If the copper has been broken, I would do a proper repair on it. Less-than-excellent grounds can cause serious headaches and weird behavior, so you want to make sure it's not compromised.
But again- if the copper strands aren't broken, a quality electrical tape wrap is a good repair for the damaged insulation [emoji1360]
If the copper isn't compromised, you can just tape it up tight with some Super 33 and be on your way. If the copper has been broken, I would do a proper repair on it. Less-than-excellent grounds can cause serious headaches and weird behavior, so you want to make sure it's not compromised.
But again- if the copper strands aren't broken, a quality electrical tape wrap is a good repair for the damaged insulation [emoji1360]
mtbtim
Elite Member
The question I have is how did that get damaged in the first place? I think there's a very good chance you had a rodent visit your engine compartment. Rodents like to chew on wiring harnesses and can cause tons of damage when they make your engine compartment their home. Do you have an open field near where you park that maybe a rodent came from and thought your engine compartment was a nice place to live?
Friday88
New member
Some of the strands are broken, but most are intact. I taped it up tight after I saw it. I guess it should be fine, but I have a new starter ordered anyway based off the issue I had last week.
I've only oned this truck for about a month, so whatever it's experienced prior to me is mostly unknown. What I do know is that it's spent its whole life in Arizona and based on the leather and paint condition it's probably also been garage kept all these years. Ive been trying to take a look under the hood every week to see if any new grease or leaks or anything begin to appear, but I didnt notice this wire initially when I bought it.
Friday88
New member
Lol I had to show this to my wife. I grew up In illinois and never saw a "clean" engine once. Salt, rust etc. Every car I had looked like crap under the hood. This truck has spent its whole life in arizona and looks like its a few years old. You should see the underside of it! Mint
willie2323
New member
hehe, yea, we are blessed in Arizona to have minimal exterior issues but the heat can be pretty damaging to interiors unless garage and shade kept all its life. I got my 99 14ish years ago from a gent in Prescott, Az where it was purchased new with 40K on the clock, now its got 126K on the clock and the black paint and cloth interior are like new. Pretty much never left in the sun and always garage kept.
Welcome,
willie
El Paso, TX is similar conditions just a little further away from the surface of the sun :dancin:... the previous owner of my 4Runner in Colorado just didn't keep as good of care of it as I plan to.
Nate_GB
Member
I agree with Tim on this. Looks like rodent damage. You can see where they chewed the insulation on that tubing next to the wires also. I wouldn't change the started out just on a hunch for your no start condition. With rodent damage on that ground wire, it would be more likely that there is a damaged wire elsewhere due to a rodent than it is that your starter is failing.
A good visual inspection of the wiring in the engine bay and possibly even removing the intake plenum to check the wiring around the heads in the valley of the engine should probably be in order.
A good visual inspection of the wiring in the engine bay and possibly even removing the intake plenum to check the wiring around the heads in the valley of the engine should probably be in order.
Friday88
New member
I haven't even considered this. I already ordered a starter, but had to return it due to a damaged part. They are supposed to send me another one, but now I'm thinking about cancelling the order. It's been over a week since the truck didn't start and I haven't had that problem since. I'm going to take a closer look at the wires tonight. Thanks.
Nate_GB
Member
Rodent damage is a hassle because it causes problems that are very intermittent. As an insurance adjuster, I see it pretty often and depending on what they chewed through, it can get expensive quick.
Fun fact, new cars use wiring insulation made out of a soy based material. Rodents love the taste of it. So any new ride is an easy, tasty snack for those little bastards.
Friday88
New member
Well I didn't feel like removing the intake plenum, but all of the other visible wires and things don't look bad to me. However, since I don't necessarily know what I'm looking at, here are some more pictures of my engine bay and visible wires. So if you or anyone sees anything that I'm not seeing, call it out please. Thanks.
4Reak Show
New member
Brass tax: yes those are main ground for ECM and the truck will CRANK but won't start. (Ask me how I know this).
Customers come in all the time with "it doesn't START" not knowing that not CRANKING and not STARTING are two completely differently areas of diagnostics.
(Example: no CRANKING could be battery, cables, starter, ignition switch, theft deterrent, neutral safety/clutch switch etc while not STARTING would be no fuel, no compression, no spark or something prohibiting it from firing up)
That being said, if your truck cranked but didn't START then your starter is unlikely to have an issue, and this poor ground chewed by Master Splinter could very well be cause.
But if it didn't CRANK then a starter is a fair guess among other basic tests.
Does that help anybody or is it just more confusing?
Good luck!
Friday88
New member
It didnt crank or do anything, but its been over a week and it hasnt repeated itself. This wire may or may not be related, i just happened to notice it
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4Reak Show
New member
Oh ok sweet deal. I didn't want someone to be potentially chasing a phantom or be ill-informed. Seems like you're on top of things, so that's awesome.
Keep us posted!
Keep us posted!
