What Does This Wire Go To (see photo)?

['98ZetecSE]

(1998 Zetec SE with 128K) Does anyone know what this wire is from or where the end should go? It comes out of the slot in the firewall insulation. I found the end of it between the PS reservoir and the fender.

 

[Lord Stanley]

(1998 Zetec SE with 128K) Does anyone know what this wire is from or where the end should go? It comes out of the slot in the firewall insulation. I found the end of it between the PS reservoir and the fender.

Well, I can tell you that it is a ground and should be screwed a metal part of the body... I do not know what it is actually for though...

 

['98ZetecSE]

Great, that was my first thought too. Would a fender screw (they protrude downward under the edge there) be an acceptable connection?

 

[todras]

Goes to the hood I believe.

 

[bagged]

Goes to the hood I believe.

yes it does
mounts under hood bolt

 

[OB1]

Yes it goes to the hood. Unless you have a hood light the fender bolt would be fine.

 

['98ZetecSE]

Thank you everyone. Can anyone take a picture of theirs so that I can see how it should be?

 

[OB1]

It goes under one of the bolts for the hood hinge, I think the most forward one.

 

[BrApple]

based on the location of the other end of the wire that is the one that connects to the motor mount, I do believe that the one for the hood is up in the corner more then the one you have pictured

 

[rouar]

based on the location of the other end of the wire that is the one that connects to the motor mount, I do believe that the one for the hood is up in the corner more then the one you have pictured

Agreed.

Mine was disconnected on my first Contour too, I think after a trip to the dealer for some engine work. Took me a while to determine where it went.

 

[zorrex]

It goes under one of the bolts for the hood hinge, I think the most forward one.

Definitely. In fact, I think there is actually a clip that is in a hole in the metal of the hood where the wire is supposed to snap in if I am not mistaken...

 

[xdetroitx]

i believ it mounts to a bolt holding your timing chain cover on near the tb

 

[striker2]

ground wire that is supposed to be bolted to the alternator bracket. i dont have any good pictures of it on my car though.

 

[icysvt]

just like every one else has said other than a few od balls lol the wire goes to the hood hinge bolt!

 

[OB1]

ground wire that is supposed to be bolted to the alternator bracket. i dont have any good pictures of it on my car though.

i believ it mounts to a bolt holding your timing chain cover on near the tb

based on the location of the other end of the wire that is the one that connects to the motor mount, I do believe that the one for the hood is up in the corner more then the one you have pictured

It goes under one of the bolts for the hood hinge, I think the most forward one.

Good God! We need to make up our mind!
xdetroitx, & striker are wrong I think. Brapple you may be correct but I'll look at mine when I get home to be sure.

 

[blu_fuz]

It actually attaches to the hood itself, not the hinge. If you look on the hood, there will be a hole there that looks like it had a screw in it because the paint will be stripped away from the threads from the screw that use to be there. It might still be there but probably wiggled out. You can connect it to any bolt or screw grounded to the body or hinge, etc....

 

[striker2]

Good God! We need to make up our mind!
xdetroitx, & striker are wrong I think. Brapple you may be correct but I'll look at mine when I get home to be sure.

I can go out to the garage and look at mine if need be but im almost 100% positive it goes to the alternator bracket. the one for the hood goes down right next to the hinge and bolts to the body near the fender kinda behind the power steering reservoir.

 

[OB1]

I can go out to the garage and look at mine if need be but im almost 100% positive it goes to the alternator bracket. the one for the hood goes down right next to the hinge and bolts to the body near the fender kinda behind the power steering reservoir.

Now that I looked at the pic again you might be right it doesn't look like the hood one. I forgot that this is a zetec as well, I don't think I have an alt ground from there on the duratec.

 

[striker2]

Now that I looked at the pic again you might be right it doesn't look like the hood one. I forgot that this is a zetec as well, I don't think I have an alt ground from there on the duratec.

yup, just looked at the zetec and it is most definitely the one that bolts to the alternator bracket. the end thats still bolted on is on the firewall. its an engine/alternator ground.

Edit: in fact if you look closely at his picture you can see both the hood ground and the windshield washer hose going back towards the hinge next to the resevoir.

 

[zorrex]

yup, just looked at the zetec and it is most definitely the one that bolts to the alternator bracket. the end thats still bolted on is on the firewall. its an engine/alternator ground.

Edit: in fact if you look closely at his picture you can see both the hood ground and the windshield washer hose going back towards the hinge next to the resevoir.

I have a Zetec and I MOST DEFINITELY have a ground in that location (hood, that is). I'm too far from my car to take a picture, though...