loose wires

[J.T.]

Under the recomendation of the local hot rod mechanic I took my 240 out and ran the you know what out of it. This was to clear some of the dirt I had sucked out of the tank and into the carb. I parked for a bit and when I came back the starter wouldn't even flinch. I popped the hood an saw my battery out of the tray and across some wires by the starter. I got lucky enough to get the starter working again but have 2 wires still unconnected. One from the firewall (which is a red wire) close to the battery and the other looks very similar to the wire that was off the starter (black with yellow stripe). I have 2 pics on my yahoo photo page

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jayteeclassic/album?.dir=/176a

ANy help would be greatly appreciated.

[Ed]

I don't think that running the you know what out of your car is the proper way to fix anything. But that is just my opinion.

It's hard to tell what your wires go too with all those pretty colorfull wire looms all over the place. There is a thick wire that runs from the battery negative connection to the firewall. That may be the wire in your first picture. The second picture I can't tell.

[Bambikiller240]

Glad someone else said that. I've been biting my tongue for several hours. Pictures without the "rice" would be more helpful. So would making sure your battery is firmly secured (among other things) before following the lame advice of alledged "hot rod mechanics".

[J.T.]

"Oh, I see" said the blind man. Point taken about running my car hard. I know it needs the tank cleaned, new fuel lines and new carbs. Can we get back to identifying the wire? It looks to be the only wire coming out by the battery tray through the firewall. And for what it's worth the previous owner put the "dress up" kit on the wires.

[Bambikiller240]

What year car? What color wire? (without the rice covering) On my 240Z all of the wires that go through the firewall are contained within the wiring harness, no individual, separate wires. This sounds like a patch or add on from your previous owner.

I wonder why this guy advised you to run the fuel through the system to clean it? Cleaning of the fuel system should be accomplished by drain and flush sort of method, not running all the crud through the lines, pump(s), and carbs so they can get fouled up with the crud.

[J.T.]

The car is a 1973 240z, the wire is red and looks to be stock. I checked the microfiche cd and see the wire but could not identify the purpose/part name (I just got the CD Friday and am rather clumsy navigating it). If you have the cd it is #48 on the diagram.

[Ed]

Looking at your picture again I can see several wires have been added to the car. None of those wires going through the firewall are stock unless they go through with the wireing harness. Either those wires were put there for a sterio, amp, fog lights or who knows. Trace the wire to see where it goes.

[J.T.]

I read your post and went to take a pic proving it went through the firewall and found out I was wrong. It isn't through the firewall at all. I had to look at it head on instead of from the side to tell. It is just a screw on the firewall. It's a red wire but it apparently goes nowhere because I can'tfind anything that isn't working with it not connected. Anyway... thanks for the help.

[Ed]

That's your negative ground wire. It connects to the negative battery terminal along with the big thick cable.

[J.T.]

Thanks for following up. I'll ground it. Kind of crazy of th PO to use a red wire as a ground. Now i need to research fixing the battery tray. I don't really like the bungee cord arrangement I have going on

[J.T.]

I found a set of 3 screw SU's w/heat shield and N36 manifold for $81 on ebay this week. So after the cores go to ztherapy its fresh fuel lines & pump, inspect the tank and then the SU's replace the holley 4 barrel. No dirt in the lines and no more abusing my engine.

[J.T.]

I changed my mind and went with a holley 600cfm w/eletric choke. Running much better now.