So I was replacing my thermo yesterday and when I pulled off the TB, I noticed a random orange plug that had electrical tape around it capping it off. I have no idea what this might go to. It looks like this:


Any ideas what this goes to?

 

Appears to be the stock alternator connector.

RBob.

 

btw you have tpi not tbi

 

That other hacked-on electric connector that's just at the very left edge of that pic, is burnt to ash and about to fail, if it hasn't failed already...

 

I just purchased this car so forgive me if I misuse acronmyms. Back on topic, the PO did a hack emissions job on the vehicle and there are alot of vacuum lines missing and alot of stuff taped off like the plug was. So I am trying to figure out what all needs to be replaced and or fixed like this plug. So I am assuming this plug is not needed if it is indeed the stock altenator plug due to the fact that my altenator is functioning?

 

Even if it seems to "work" now, you might find that it would function ALOT better if it was actually hooked up. Most things do, you know.

That thing looks NASTY in the pics. I don't know about you, but I HATE HATE HATE working on some slimy cesspool of 200,000 miles of road funk dripping all over me; working on a CLEAN old POS is bad enough, but working on a DIRTY one like what you've got there is just .... senseless.

I'd suggest, for openers, take the car to the quarter car wash; stop along the way and pick up a couple of cans of engine degreaser; park in the bay at the wash, and wait about 10 or 15 minutes for the exhaust to cool down (remember, that stuff you just bought is FUEL, diesel specifically, and about the last thing you want to do is spray it onto something and have it start a fire); then hose the ENTIRE thing off with the "engine clean" or "tire clean" or "pre-wash" function; wait a couple more minutes; then "wash" the hell out of every minute detail of the whole motor, being careful not to spray directly at the distributor or any other electrical parts. Then when you get back homw, take off EVERY INCH of the PO's tape, and find out what it's hiding. Then you'll be MUCH better equipped to restore it to proper operation, when you can actually SEE what you're trying to work on.

 

That is connected to the back of the altenator...to some sort of bolt and knut. Believe it or not, the wire is still very sturdy but I agree it does look like it may break.

 

Thanks I'll take that under advisement.

 

So this is for sure the altenator plug? I did not see where it would connect to it.

 

Yeah the wire is fine; but THE CONNECTOR is burnt to a crisp. Look at the yellow insulation on it, it's turned briwn and melted back; and the metal of the connector is all corroded (white dust) from the heat. Something is clearly wrong there.

Take the car to the car wash and clean it up, and all sorts of things will probably be easier to find.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...56_55002_4443_

Here's your alternator...look at all the pics, especially the one of the back, and it will become immediately obvious where that connector goes.