Wire under the Air Cleaner

DARK_BLU · Post by **DARK_BLU** » 12 Mar 2017, 06:42

There is a wire under the air cleaner of my 96 Volvo 850, and the connectors that clamp together came loose, preventing the car from starting. I re-connected that connector, but the connector ends are degrading. I Gorilla Taped it up and zip tied it and it aint "pretty", but every now and then, the car won't start and I have to push the connector ends together to get her to start. Can this wire just be direct connected with removal of the connector ends and soldered together, so I don't have to worry about it falling apart? I don't know what it's called, but this wire goes from the back of the engine on the air cleaner side, to the front, with connectors on each side of the wire, that connect together. The connectors are just crumbling and I'd like to know if the wire can just be soldered together and taped up to prevent it from separating? Appreciate the feedback.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 12 Mar 2017, 08:28

Can you get a picture? I am having trouble knowing which wire you speak of.
You say back of the engine- you mean a braided wire (ground wire)?

Post by **misha** » 12 Mar 2017, 08:30

Me too.

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 12 Mar 2017, 10:26

+1, a picture would be very helpful. There are a few connectors in that area of the engine bay.

Post by **abscate** » 12 Mar 2017, 10:50

Could it be the connector for the hood alarm switch? When the car fails to start, is it not cranking (starter not turning?)

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 12 Mar 2017, 14:36

abscate wrote:Could it be the connector for the hood alarm switch? When the car fails to start, is it not cranking (starter not turning?)

Could be, but I don't think that would affect the car running.

beigg · Post by **beigg** » 12 Mar 2017, 15:50

once the car is started, when you disconnect that wire while car is idling, does the car shut down?

DARK_BLU · Post by **DARK_BLU** » 13 Mar 2017, 20:27

beigg wrote:once the car is started, when you disconnect that wire while car is idling, does the car shut down?

I don't "disconnect" the wire. I don't have to. When the two de-composing ends start to separate, the car won't start. When I go under the hood and press them together, the car starts. I have pic:

http://oi64.tinypic.com/294tqm9.jpg

It's the Black Wire with the Zip Ties. I can't do a better pic than that, without removing the air cleaner assembly and I couldn't do that today, due to rain.

Post by **abscate** » 13 Mar 2017, 20:33

That looks like a heavy current wire powering one of the fuse boxes?

Yikes

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 13 Mar 2017, 20:40

Looks to me like the wire for the crank sensor. Is the connector white?
That's DEFINITELY something that needs to be replaced. I wouldn't mess with splicing wires for a vital sensor like that, because you could mess with signals and cause more no-start issues.