I am in the middle of replacing my cracked power steering pump pulley.



And I notice a fairly large power cable routing precariously close to the power steering belt. I am wondering is there a place this wire should be fastened to to the cam belt cover?




I am not sure where this wire goes to but it certainly looks like the protective housing is cracked, so I'll get some protection back on there.

Mike
88 S4

 

That's the power supply lead to the ABS pump, it clips onto the driver's side cam belt cover with a gray omega clip. 477 951 851. It then wraps around the PS reservoir bracket.

Be careful if the insulation is cracked, it is a bigass unfused cable connected directly to the positive terminal of the battery. Disconnect battery ground before playing with it.

:

 

Rob, thanks for the fast response. Your post is super helpful. Yeah power is disconnected already.

I'd appreciate if anyone has a pic of the cable fastened and routed. Thanks again in advance!

Also, can that cable be replaced independently or is it part of a larger loom.

 

Part of the infamous "14 pin loom" that runs from the jumper post to the alternator and the starter.

Check over at the jumper post and the 14 pin connector for more deterioration/green/bare wires.

 

Michael,

As Greg says that wire is part of the engine harness loom and by now if they have not been replaced chances are they are falling to pieces. Technically I see no reason why that wire has to be in the loom other than originality and tidyness/protection. If you need to run a separate cable the question would be "why?" but it can be done providing you have seperate outsheath to protect it.

Inspection of your photo shows something identical to how mine was a year or so ago- the heatshrink is cracked [feels like bakelite] and the red colour is washe out to an anaemic pink colour suggesting it is on its last legs. Flex that cable to test if the insulation is viable- it will probably be cracked or will crack when you flex it and that tells you for sure it needs replacement. Otherwise it is a welding machine waiting to EWR weld something that you really do not want to happen. The rest of the loom is invariably going to be in a similar condition and probably in need of one of Sean's harnesses. The 16mm wire at the hot post will be no better as most likely will the wires entering the 14 pin connector next to the hot post.

The joys of 928 ownership- guaranteed never ending $$$ sink hole! Just a question of whether you sink them "one at a time" or "all at once".

Regards

Fred

 

Rob,
That is an excellent and informative display board. Thanks for posting it.

 

You're welcome! Michael, if you end up ordering one of the gray omega clips and are down in that part of the car, make sure you also order one of the pictured big zip ties- 999 513 010 40- it holds the lower radiator hose to a crescent shaped indent on the fan shroud. Keeps the radiator hose from making out with the power steering belt.

 

Rob, thanks for all the tips. I'll order up both of your suggestions.

Gregg and Fred, thanks for the tips on the harness. I inspected that power cable and its not in great condition. The areas that are not covered by the protection, the red cable is turned pink and it's dry and cracking. In places. I can reach all the areas early and put a couple layers of heat shrink. Will that be sufficient for some life or do you think a replacement harness is required? I was hoping I could get some live out of it and do the fuel lines this winter.





FYI I removed that accessory with the inline fuse and red plastic tubing. That was the aftermarket alarm. I also pulled and cleaned the 14-pin connector and added some heat shrink tubing to cover up the bare connector ends and patched the cracked harness housing with electrical tape.

Regarding a replacement harness, I see 928MS and 928rus both sell a harnesses. Any other options out there? PM me with personal thoughts on either.

Second question about installing the harness, what needs to be removed to get the harness out and a new one in? It looks like i need to remove the ABS pump to get that lead fished around. Distributors look like they need to come out too. I have searched and can't find any BTDT on harness installs.

Thanks as always.

 

Rob, you are (OCD) Awesome!!

 

Michael,

I played around with my harness when doing the timing belt so things were generally out of the way for other reasons. From the top of my head I would say the only thing you really need out of the way to do the harness is the alternator and I dare say even that could be worked around at a pinch but it is so easy to drop it out of the way and then much easier to work the terminals . I do not see any reason to disturb anything in the ABS pump area- that is straight forward. You have to work the 10mm2 cable around the obstructions to get at the ABS pump hot post, not sure but you might have to work the power steering reservoir a bit by unbolting the clamp but that is all.

To bring a bit more life/sense of security to my power carrying cables that were a bit like yours I wrapped them with self vulcanising high temperature tape. It has worked for the last year or so but I hope to change them out soon.

Rgds

Fred

 

Michael,
I just installed an engine harness from Sean (928sRus) and it was basically plug and play. The wire colors were all correct and correct length. The only thing not quite right was the oil pressure sensor wires. Apparently there is no source for the 3 wire connector needed for the later cars. That required the oil pressure sensor to be replaced with a 2 wire unit. No big deal. Sean used the latest heat shielding and it's easy to replace. The hardest part was feeding the new 14 pin connector up past the Hall sensor on the passenger side of the engine compartment.

The ABS pump does not need to removed. The PS reservoir just needs to be loosened to fit the new ABS power cable in place around and behind it.

 

Michael--

Greg Brown makes a great harness too. I think that Roger offers Seans bits, Mark at 928 International has mentioned that he has one that may be Greg's. Regardless, you can get a harness and the fiddly clips and bits shipped together.

Rob--

Is there a location-and-use guide for all those plastic pieces? I need an engine-bay kit, except for the injection wiring clips we replaced with the intake refresh. I'm sure everything else is past due.

I didn't know there's a specific clamp for the ABS cable -- not sure there was one on mine when I got it, although it did have a dealer timing belt service done as part of the purchase process. What's that tell us?