wiring question

[dcjcdc]

have a 1990 sunbird corsica
with a 5.0 litre engine cobra omc inboard/outdrive

just noticed while hooking up my battery cables
there was one wire to put onto battery
( it is a brown wire than the wire turns into orange and there is a fuse with it)
what could this wire be for and does it go on the positive or negative on the battery
thanks

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: wiring question

any evidence of a previous installation of a fishfinder/chartplotter or radio? if there's nothing thats not working due to lack of power I wouldnt be in a hurry to hook it back up until I find out where the other end is.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: wiring question

That is normally a bilge pump hook up, on the positive battery terminal. It could also be some sore of impresssed current, anti-galvanic corrosion system, like the MerCathode system that Mercruiser has. You should trace the wire to see if my assumption is correct.

 

[dcjcdc]

Re: wiring question

bilge pump is working
- only thing not working is the trim guage
and was told its probably the sending unit

 

[Chris1956]

Re: wiring question

Very unlikely it has anything to do with trim gauge. See if you have a impressed anti-galvanc corrosion system.

 

[wire2]

Re: wiring question

If you have a multi-meter, check for 12v dc to ground on it. If zero, switch to ohms, check for resistance to ground. If it shows some, there's something connected to it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: wiring question

Always hot wire for the station memory and clock on the stereo system perhaps. If it has a fuse in it it would go to the positive terminal on the battery. Otherwise, follow the wire and see where it goes. If the bilge pump has an automatic float switch, it would require a direct to the battery connection as well. So even though the manual switch on the console turns on the pump, the automatic may not be working.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: wiring question

+1 Silvertip.

What did it turn out to be? I am betting on float switch constant on wire.

Joe

 

[seabob4]

Re: wiring question

+1 Silvertip.

What did it turn out to be? I am betting on float switch constant on wire.

Joe

+2, especially since there is an in-line in it...