Electrical 1987 5.0 Hatchback, where’s this lil wire go?

[Vulpes5.0]

I have a black wire with purple stripes under the steering wheel, snipped and loose. I don’t see anywhere it belongs, and everything seems ok in the car. I have a rigged ignition (no key needed) if that helps. Any idea what it does?

Little unrelated tip- I had steering wheel up/down left/right play, the single bolt you see there was the issue. Remove the 2 plastic housings and use a 1/2 inch wrench to tighten it and the play is gone.

 

[General karthief]

It's likely the key in ignition buzzer wire.

 

[Mustang5L5]

It's likely the key in ignition buzzer wire.

I believe you are correct but I can verify later if I remember to look at my wiring diagram

 

[02 281 GT]

Does the chime sound when the key is in the ignition? If not, that's probably the wire for it. A simple way to find out would be to expose the wires and ground it to the steering column. The chime will go off if that's the wire for it.

 

[Mustang5L5]

It is the key warning wire

 

[Blown88GT]

I don' know why they cut wires when all you have to do is unplug it from the chime module.

 

[General karthief]

Because some are lazy or just stupid

 

[02 281 GT]

Probably because the same module is used for key-in, seatbelt warning, and headlight warning. You lose all three if you just unplug it.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I actually think the plug for that was another 2" along the wire.

 

[02 281 GT]

I actually think the plug for that was another 2" along the wire.

Isn't it part of the main harness connector for the steering column, though? Unless you remove that pin from the connector your only real option is to just cut the wire.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Isn't it part of the main harness connector for the steering column, though? Unless you remove that pin from the connector your only real option is to just cut the wire.

That wire is just a single plug. Connects here. All the literally had to do was unplug this

https://www.cjponyparts.com/ignitio...MI0Pj_u7uJ4AIVB1YNCh2IbgQiEAQYAyABEgL4DPD_BwE

 

[02 281 GT]

That wire is just a single plug. Connects here. All the literally had to do was unplug this

https://www.cjponyparts.com/ignitio...MI0Pj_u7uJ4AIVB1YNCh2IbgQiEAQYAyABEgL4DPD_BwE

Interesting. It's integrated with the rest of the column wires on the same plug on my '95 and on the Mercury.

 

[General karthief]

Interesting. It's integrated with the rest of the column wires on the same plug on my '95 and on the Mercury.

Thats because everybody was unplugging or cutting the wire, they integrated it to make it harder to undo. You can't even unplug the buzzers, they are integrated too

 

[02 281 GT]

Thats because everybody was unplugging or cutting the wire, they integrated it to make it harder to undo. You can't even unplug the buzzers, they are integrated too

Probably because it's a(n annoying) safety item mandated by the NHTSA.

 

[Blown88GT]

Probably because the same module is used for key-in, seatbelt warning, and headlight warning. You lose all three if you just unplug it.

Who wants or needs any of that junk. They could have put the headlights on a relay so they are off when the ignition is off.
I think the only thing mandated is the seatbelt warning. At least it's not a '74 when the car wouldn't start until the seatbelt was buckled. The 1st time it went in for service, the mechanic disabled it.