Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Car part?

I just go done replacing the plugs and plugwires on my 96 duratec. It was way easier than I thought it would be (45 min) including cleanup, testdrive and swithching 2 misplaced coilwires. I have a question. Under the front plastic cover there is a steel box with a cable and an electrical connection that I had to move. The how to said nothing about this. It was easy to move, but the wires about 6 inches down sparked a couple of times ( neg was disconnected ). What is this box? Just curious since I have no idea, and no book.

It is your IMRC control box. It actuates the secondary linkage on your car based on throttle position. BTW, you should always unhook the positive lead on your car to insure it really has no ground. The car can easily find another ground even when the cable is unhooked from the battery. Since you've driven the car and everything seems to be in working order you should be ok in regards to seeing sparks, but don't tempt fate again.

Rick

Beg to differ.
If only one cable to be removed it should be negative. If in addition you wish to remove positive then do as step two. Reverse on reconnection, i.e. +ve first, -ve last.

I recently observed a neophyte ratchet off a +ve battery terminal clamp and everytime the ratchet handle hit the body it drew an arc. It was a Toyota not a Contique BTW. That's the reason you disconnect -ve first.

Have to agree. Always disconnect the ground/negative cable first. (though it's fine to unhook it by itself too)

The car can not magically find another ground back to the battery. Without a complete loop circuit it will never get power from the battery.