Hey guys, one of my main projects on my '91 RS (305 TBI 5 speed) is cleaning up a lot of the shoddy wiring and patch jobs. Looking through the rats nest in the driver side footwell I noticed two wires spliced together going into a connector - one purple, and one white with red stripe. Looks like the other side of the connector is the same color. Any idea what these may be for? I looked through the wiring diagrams on Austin Third Gen but didn't see anything that matched the white/red, unless I'm completely missing something. Thanks!

 

My guess is that the WHT/RED wire is added in, not stock. It doesn't even look like a piece of GM wire.

As for the purple, that is likely for the starter solenoid. Hence why it is such a heavy gauge wire. Push button start installed? VATs bypass? Bad clutch or P/N safety switch bypass?

RBob.

 

I'll have to double check the wires on the other side of the connector; I thought it looked like the same 2 colors on the other side, but the picture was just a still from a video so it wasn't too clear. You mentioning clutch safety switch is a likely culprit though, as that is bypassed. VATS connector has resistors just jammed in it, even though I'm pretty sure when I checked it the resistance didn't match the key nor any other possible resistance values.... This one is an electrical mess to say the least... Lol

 

After double checking the wiring on the backside of the connector, it's definitely just the clutch safety switch, purple and yellow, the lighting in the video I originally took just made the back wire look a similar shade to the white wire.

 

Big difference in the latest pic, major is that both wires are a larger gauge. A clutch pedal bypass does make sense. I never liked the idea of heavy pressure on the engine thrust bearing, with no oil pressure, while cranking. Dumb.

Glad you got it figured out.

RBob.

 

Yeah, sorry the first pic was just a real quick one from a video trying to figure out how much of a mess I had on my hands to clean up, here's a good pic of some of the mess I have ahead. Part of the mess is probably from an old tach, other splices for stuff that I'm not quite sure yet, and this "sensor" box that I originally assumed was just some old keyless entry, but with the adjustable **** and only 3 wires disappearing into the loom I'm not sure.

 

The "sensor box" looks aftermarket, the one picture of it looks like there are some letters, possibly a name?

 

Dear God that $hit gives me nightmares!

...must organize and replace all unsightly wiring with new beautiful Wiring Harnesses...

Ah.... feels soo much better now!

 

Agreed, looks like someone did brain surgery with a chainsaw

And now the OP has gotta put it all back right. I do commend danderson for trying to fix other's messes, it ain't fun cleaning up that kind of butchery......

 

No name/description besides "sensor" on the box, but it did have a patent number. After googling the patent number it does, in fact, appear to be a security system of some sorts.

 

Now just imagine kicking the "sensor" box and VATS resistor every time you drive it because they were poorly supported... Lol

Also, not pictured: the 2-wire extension cord to a toggle switch haphazardly ran to the radiator fan. Just to trigger a little extra anxiety

 

Yeah...

I can't even count the amount of VAT Systems/ PASSKEY Systems that I have bypasses after all these years...
Most of them, I just soldered the corresponding Ohm Measurement Resistor across the appropriate Two Terminals of the VATS Module/ BCM.

 

Thats the shock sensor for an old car alarm.

 

Good to know, thanks! That makes a lot more sense now.