kenpro42

Any idea what this black piece is or what it does? Coming from A11, I think a ground wire was attached that came off the back wall cluster behind the CE panel.

linderpat

It appears to be some kind of a splice. Not a good one either - I've never seen one that looks like that.

Majestic Moose

That is a bolt-on mechanical splice. Uncommon for automotive use but nothing really wrong with it. There is no way there would be a ground attached, that is the always hot power into the ignition switch.

Mrmerlin

when in doubt use the multi meter to see if a wire is ground or hot.

In the 928 the brown wires are ground,
and red wires are hot.

That black connector is a wire splice and is better than a crimp splice.
they might have cut this wire to add an alarm .

NOTE best bet remove the splice and solder the wires together then use marine shrink wrap

linderpat

Shouldn't it at least be shrink wrapped? Those exposed screws worry me from an accidental short standpoint. I wouldn't use that in the CE panel.

Mrmerlin

Ed those screws are sunken into the connector,
so unless you poke something into the well they sit in not much chance of a short.
BUT some heat shrink wouldnt be a bad idea

dr bob

I can't overstress the need to share the year and delivery market for your car when you ask a question about it. In your case, since you are showing off a CE panel connector, a clue about which one we are looking at would also be a huge help.


Thanks!

dr bob

kenpro42

1986, Euro. The reason I mentioned the ground was because I found a brown wire attached to the cluster just hanging, and not attached to anything else. It had a pointed metal end with 4 slits going down it. Forked, if you will. I guessed it must have went to the radio, then thought maybe it was plugged into this "Lego block" Thanks everyone for your responses.

jpitman2

Down here we call them chocolate block connectors, due to the way they can be bought in a strip , as below. Can be handy to join several parallel wires in a group. The recessed screws are pretty safe. google that name, they come up.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12-WAY-3...-/162616926761
jp 83 Euro S AT 57k

Petza914

A forked crimp on connector like you describe on a brown wire probably just slipped behind a screw that was then snuggled down as a ground. Shouldn't be any harm in resecueig it in a similar fashion to another screw that grounds to the sheet metal. Who knows, something might start working again, or there's a reason it's disconnected (accessory no longer installed, intentionally bypassing something, a short, etc).