Looks like a ground wire but not sure

[77 Z]

From inside the car..there is a wire on the left side top of the engine that goes from near one of the injectors to the left side of the engine compartment...this is on the opposite side of the car from the battery...the wire appears to be flat looks kinda like a snake skin..this wire is severly damaged due to what looks like either fire or it just shorted out....does anyone know what the wire might be...or what its for...the car is running fine with the exception of being just a little rough in 4th gear...starts ok and every thing else...but something is wrong with the wire..

Thanks

Mike...77 Z

Columbia SC

[77 Z]

The wire appears to be a ground of some type...but as I know very little about electrical systems I cant tell if that is what it is or not...apparently its not affecting the way the car runs...but what it is and what its for is beyond me...at this point//

77 Z

[2ManyZs]

Any chance you could post a pic of the wire in question? There's so many different wires on the FI cars that it would be almost impossible to figure out which one you are talking about.

[frank13]

Does the wire in question look to have ever had any type of insulation covering it? Does it have round terminals at the ends, and are these enda attached to any bare metal of the block, head, or intake. And is the other end attached to the bulkhead(firewall), via a screw or bolt. If so it is a ground. It sounds like a common bare ground strap. Grey/silver fine strands of wire "braded" end to end? If it is not frayed or incomplete just leave it be. Computer controlled cars need these. If it is tore up replace it. You will want to checke the points of it's attachments also. Make sure they are clean and the face of the terminals and retaining srews/ bolts/nuts are clean and making good clean contact. :devious: .

[77 Z]

Frank...your description is perfect...think that is what it is..will replace as indicated..thanks for your reply..I had a feeling it was a ground of some sort...had a problem the other day relating to the battery and one of the terminals ...this may have caused the wire in question to have overheated which is why it looks like it does at this time

Thanks again for the help...and as well (2many Z's)

77 Z

Mike

[St.stephen]

Frank is correct. that is the ground wire that attaches to the firewall.

[TomoHawk]

If you are going to replace the ground wire, I might suggest a braided wire. I'm not sure if it would be appropriate, but it should increase the grounding 'power''. You'll need a screw/bolt on the one end with a crimped on eye connector. some kind of crimped on connector on ther other end (depends what it goes to). I think I would also cover it with shrink-wrap or some other kind of tight insulation to keep the water out.

[77 Z]

TomoHawk

Thanks for the reply...that is what it looks like..the wire also connects or has a wire connected to it that gives the appearance of a fuseable link ..but its not..its connected to a larger wire that runs along the left fender....now..it also the smaler wire goes around to the front of the motor towards the first injector..so we have what appears to be a ground wire with a smaller wire attached to it that then connects to a large wire (on the left fender) which then has the small wire running to the front of the motor....if that makes any sence to you....

Thank you for the help

77 Z

[77 Z]

Frank...it does attach to the intake as well..then comes back to the left fender connecting with a smaller wire..all of which connects to a large group of wires on the left fender area..the small wire also runs forward to the front of the motor..in the area of the first injector...this all sound kinda confusing but its not all that bad as long as you are looking at the motor

Thanks for all the help you guys have been...I scraped off the burned insulation and retaped with electrical tape for the time being..seems to be running fine like this..but i obviously dont want to do something that could cause damage to the electrical system or motor down the road...

Thanks again

77 Z

Mike

[TomoHawk]

Most American engines I've seen have the "ground strap" on it. It just gives you a better ground, and should still be good after a long time because it's zinc-plated copper, so it shouldn't corrode much.

[77 Z]

TomoHawk

This is a Z with the original Datsun inline 6 in it

Thanks

77 Z

[beandip]

there is no need to cover a braded ground wire or protect it from water , you want it to ground the systime it is connected to. The main thing is to see that where it is connected the surface is clean and free of paint and rust. If concerned about crrosion spray with WD 40. Gary