Unknown wire in engine compartment not connected?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Unknown wire in engine compartment not connected?
In looking around the engine for my wiring harness numbers (.01 not good) i discovered a wire that had two contacts jumpered together but not connected. It seems that it should be connected to the little inner fan belt tensioner wheel. Can someone tell me the purpose of the wheel and the connector?
Thanks.
Keith
Thanks.
Keith
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 729
Likes: 57
From: Melbourne, FL
Not certain, but I believe when hooked up to the tensioner, that circuit sends a signal to the idiot light on the dash to indicated a broken belt, when the circuit opens. I suppose you could test my assumption by removing the jumper and starting the car to see if the light comes on....
I base the assumption by something my mechanic told me recently -- he was replacing the tensioner in a 993, and said it's not too uncommon a repair. He said when the tensioner starts to go, the light on the dash comes on, even if the belt itself hasn't broken.
I suppose I'd rather the light come on in advance of a belt breaking, than not...
-Chris
I base the assumption by something my mechanic told me recently -- he was replacing the tensioner in a 993, and said it's not too uncommon a repair. He said when the tensioner starts to go, the light on the dash comes on, even if the belt itself hasn't broken.
I suppose I'd rather the light come on in advance of a belt breaking, than not...
-Chris
Addict & Guru
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,897
Likes: 3
From: St. Louis
Keith
If it's what I think you're referring to, the roller assembly is really not a tensioner since its purpose is not to provide tension to the belt, but rather to ride the belt and, if the belt breaks, activate the broken belt warning light. It is not that uncommon for the switch in the assembly to malfunction causing an erroneous warning light. I'd guess that's what happened & the PO either didn't want to pay for the fix or never got around to it. W/o checking the wiring schematic, I assume the jumper was to get rid of the light. I'd suggest fixing the problem since the broken belt light provides an important warning. Driving w/a broken fan belt can be bad - very bad <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />
Here's Robin's DIY showing removal of the assembly.
<a href="http://p-car.com/diy/roller" target="_blank">How to fix a squeaking fan belt roller.</a>
If it's what I think you're referring to, the roller assembly is really not a tensioner since its purpose is not to provide tension to the belt, but rather to ride the belt and, if the belt breaks, activate the broken belt warning light. It is not that uncommon for the switch in the assembly to malfunction causing an erroneous warning light. I'd guess that's what happened & the PO either didn't want to pay for the fix or never got around to it. W/o checking the wiring schematic, I assume the jumper was to get rid of the light. I'd suggest fixing the problem since the broken belt light provides an important warning. Driving w/a broken fan belt can be bad - very bad <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />
Here's Robin's DIY showing removal of the assembly.
<a href="http://p-car.com/diy/roller" target="_blank">How to fix a squeaking fan belt roller.</a>
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Thanks Dan. I will reattach the wire lead tommorrow and see if I get an indicator light. Took a look at the DIY on p-car and seems pretty straight forward. Thanks for the advise.
Keith
Keith
