Help me identify this wire
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Help me identify this wire
First off, I have a 2004 Z06. I was removing a mod installed by the previous owner and came across a black/white stripe wire that is coming out of the factory wire loom in the battery area (this leads me to believe it is a factory wire). It has an o-ring type connection on the end of it and is about 18" in length. Can anyone tell me where this wire goes or have a look in their car and tell me where it goes. My first thought is a grounding wire of some sort. My car runs fine and has no CEL or any issues that I can tell. I cannot put my battery back in until I get to the bottom of this. Any help is greatly appreciated. I have linked a picture below.
Trent
Trent
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
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Although I don't know what exactly it is, you might connect a wire tester to it and then touch the positive battery terminal of your battery with the tester to rule out a ground 
Edit: on second thought I think I'm overthinking it... I have a migraine right now so carry on ha
Edit: on second thought I think I'm overthinking it... I have a migraine right now so carry on ha
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The wire loom this black/white stripe wire is coming out of originates at the large firewall grommet located right behind (towards the back of the car) the battery tray. As the loom comes out of the firewall it splits in a Y shape. if you follow the Y towards the passenger side the wire is coming out of that piece. It has to be a factory job as the tape is original. The guy that worked on this car before I owned it couldn't have done that good of a job plus the crimp on the o-ring is OEM. Are you sure you don't have this wire?
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The previous owner had street glow neon lights (2 6" bulbs) in the front fender vents. He also had the front right side marker tapped for when they received power but a switch in the center console could defeat them completely even when the side markers were on.
I was removing all aftermarket wiring and found that wire just sticking out of the loom. I find it hard to believe GM would leave it loose like that (& I am 99% convinced the wire is OEM). When I found it is was routed below into the inner fender well. I pulled it up for the picture. I will use a better camera tonight and try to get a clearer shot if that would help.
I was removing all aftermarket wiring and found that wire just sticking out of the loom. I find it hard to believe GM would leave it loose like that (& I am 99% convinced the wire is OEM). When I found it is was routed below into the inner fender well. I pulled it up for the picture. I will use a better camera tonight and try to get a clearer shot if that would help.
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That would be really helpful. I will add my Z06 does also have fog lights retrofitted. I have the OEM button inside above the truck button and what looks like a decent quality aftermarket wiring kit. I don't know if that would be removed when retrofitting fog lights.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Columbia SC
I don't believe that would be related to a Fog Light retrofit since it goes into the passenger compartment. I have not helped with a 2004 retrofit but I have with earlier years. Do your retrofitted Fog Lights still work? I hope some one with a 2004 FSM can identify what wires could be in that harness routing. It is hard to do that unless there is a connector involved.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Olmsted Falls Ohio
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '24
You haven't mentioned if you put a meter in the wire to see if it has continuity with the negative battery terminal - if so this would tell you it is a ground wire. If so, you could probably assume it was part of a mod at some point and pretty much ignore it.
If not a ground, then hook up your battery and see if it has voltage with key off, key on, or key on and toggling various switches which might tell you what it's for.
If not a ground, then hook up your battery and see if it has voltage with key off, key on, or key on and toggling various switches which might tell you what it's for.
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I don't believe that would be related to a Fog Light retrofit since it goes into the passenger compartment. I have not helped with a 2004 retrofit but I have with earlier years. Do your retrofitted Fog Lights still work? I hope some one with a 2004 FSM can identify what wires could be in that harness routing. It is hard to do that unless there is a connector involved.
Thread Starter
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You haven't mentioned if you put a meter in the wire to see if it has continuity with the negative battery terminal - if so this would tell you it is a ground wire. If so, you could probably assume it was part of a mod at some point and pretty much ignore it.
If not a ground, then hook up your battery and see if it has voltage with key off, key on, or key on and toggling various switches which might tell you what it's for.
If not a ground, then hook up your battery and see if it has voltage with key off, key on, or key on and toggling various switches which might tell you what it's for.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
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From: Columbia SC
You haven't mentioned if you put a meter in the wire to see if it has continuity with the negative battery terminal - if so this would tell you it is a ground wire. If so, you could probably assume it was part of a mod at some point and pretty much ignore it.
If not a ground, then hook up your battery and see if it has voltage with key off, key on, or key on and toggling various switches which might tell you what it's for.
If not a ground, then hook up your battery and see if it has voltage with key off, key on, or key on and toggling various switches which might tell you what it's for.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Olmsted Falls Ohio
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '24
If there is no continuity, it would either be a 'wire to nowhere', or possibly a positive voltage supply wire, which can be determined by checking voltage with key off, key on, and cycling the various accessories to see when a voltage might be present.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Columbia SC
Can you try and ID where any of the other wires in that loom go in the engine compartment? If you can I will look in my 2001 FSM and see if I can find a connector in the wiring that might give a clue by showing a black/white wire. This color combination is NOT common in the C5 wiring in my FSM. It is rarely used but is used for some functions including a ground in at least one circuit I looked at. 99.9% of all OEM ground wires are black.
Thread Starter
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Can you try and ID where any of the other wires in that loom go in the engine compartment? If you can I will look in my 2001 FSM and see if I can find a connector in the wiring that might give a clue by showing a black/white wire. This color combination is NOT common in the C5 wiring in my FSM. It is rarely used but is used for some functions including a ground in at least one circuit I looked at. 99.9% of all OEM ground wires are black.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Columbia SC
Remember I used a 2001 FSM. I looked in the Wiring section for power and grounds. I found a number of Black/White wires but either they would cause driving issues or they went to connectors or splices. I found none that wen to ground directly. Just in case it was related to the ESC I looked there but it showed no such wires. It could be somewhere else in the 3 volumes. If you can't find someone with a 2004 FSM soon, I would just insulate the lug and tuck it away.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Rio Rancho NM
I looked but did not see that wire. I do see one that looks similiar that goes under the fuse box but it's all wrapped in black tape or whatever the factory wraps it with. Hopefully I can pull the fuse box over the weekend and check it out more.