185318

Hi all, I'm having a problem that I can't figure out. Can find nothing in the manuals or online that addresses this problem. I have an 87S4\5spd. There's a wiring harness that goes between the timing belt on the right side when putting the belt on the right cam sprocket. How does one accomplish this without disconnecting the harness at one end?...or am I missing something simple? The hrness is routed right in front of the water pump through the belt on the right side if the engine. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Brett Matthews

Yep, when I did my T-belt, that harness had to be disconnected. A little bit of fishin' around on your part will get it back into place. Yes, things are tight in there.....

Is your '87 an early one, or like the "rest of them"? A funny thing, mine is an "early" one, but someone previous to me "updated" to the later water pump, a relatively simple change, it seems to me. Looks like it took a little bit of work, and one new part to complete. <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

185318

Brett, Thanks for the info. I was afraid of that! Which end of the harness should I disconnect? The left end looks like it may be the easiest, but it's on the other side of the engine from where my problem is. The right end goes down into the bowels of the engine where I can't even see the end!
Thanks.

Brett Matthews

Lets be sure of which side we're talking about, OK? Right side as you're looking at the engine, or sitting in the car? I'm taking it as sitting in the car.
I took it loose from the right side, the harness comes back up along the outside of the right head, and goes to a junction block just behind the covered or capped POS (+) bolt. There should be a clamp to be taken loose, unbolted I guess I should say. Mine was unbolted, and not bolted back up, so I had to find a new bolt.
Be careful of that junction block. Mine was either disintegrating, or someone previous to me assembled it carelessly. two or three of the pins were hanging loose, and I had to finagle them into place, I'm glad I was able to, instead of having to replace the harness!

At least, this is how I remember the sequence....
Any confusion, email me back... IF we need to take it off the list...
"Rickman@columbus.rr.com"

Jerry 87 928S4

Just to let you know, I did the same thing as Brett. You have to disconnect it at the front passenger side near the positive terminal and then fish it through the covers. It took some time but I finally got it through.

Also, my plug is not in the best shape either so I had to be careful with it.

185318

Thanks! Brett and Jerry! (Do you guyss sell ice cream?? The passenger side is the side I kinda thought would be the easiest. Well, here goes...

Thanks again for the info...

Ed Ruiz

FYI - One reason the cable connection and the area around it starts to deteriorate may be caused by leaving the cover off the possitive terminal. That cover does more than keep one from accidentally grounding a tool across the positive terminal - it also keeps rain and car-wash water from gaining direct access to all the connection under and behind it. If your car does not have that cover, GET IT!

Brett Matthews

Thanks Ed,
I have been told to get that, and the cover that goes over the finned two plug thingie just under the front of the engine hood. Any other covers that usually get pitched? Someone mention in some other post, about a cover on the coil?

Ed Ruiz

The OEM coil wires already come with a rubber cover that fits over the coil when they're inserted. Usually, the cover over the positive terminal is the one that some shops seem to forget to put back on. <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

Jerry 87 928S4

Ed, that explains it. When I got my Shark it did not have the cover. I replaced a few years ago.