• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

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

  • Thread starter Thread starter Vulpes5.0
  • Start date Start date Jan 23, 2019

Vulpes5.0

5 Year Member
Nov 17, 2018
143
27
38
Warner Robins, Georgia
Jan 23, 2019
#1
  • Jan 23, 2019
  • #1
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.
 

Attachments

  • D32FBC1D-01A8-4F16-AD8F-13DFFFED06C2.webp
    141.5 KB · Views: 271

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,933
10,575
203
polk county florida
Jan 23, 2019
#2
  • Jan 23, 2019
  • #2
It's likely the key in ignition buzzer wire.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,260
17,944
224
Massachusetts
Jan 24, 2019
#3
  • Jan 24, 2019
  • #3
General karthief said:
It's likely the key in ignition buzzer wire.
Click to expand...

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

02 281 GT

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs
15 Year Member
Feb 3, 2009
3,208
1,972
194
Cabot, AR
Jan 24, 2019
#4
  • Jan 24, 2019
  • #4
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

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,260
17,944
224
Massachusetts
Jan 24, 2019
#5
  • Jan 24, 2019
  • #5
It is the key warning wire
 
Reactions: fredfifty

Blown88GT

Founding Member
Nov 13, 1999
2,283
524
164
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Jan 24, 2019
#6
  • Jan 24, 2019
  • #6
I don' know why they cut wires when all you have to do is unplug it from the chime module.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,933
10,575
203
polk county florida
Jan 24, 2019
#7
  • Jan 24, 2019
  • #7
Because some are lazy or just stupid
 

02 281 GT

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs
15 Year Member
Feb 3, 2009
3,208
1,972
194
Cabot, AR
Jan 25, 2019
#8
  • Jan 25, 2019
  • #8
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

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,260
17,944
224
Massachusetts
Jan 25, 2019
#9
  • Jan 25, 2019
  • #9
I actually think the plug for that was another 2" along the wire.
 

02 281 GT

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs
15 Year Member
Feb 3, 2009
3,208
1,972
194
Cabot, AR
Jan 25, 2019
#10
  • Jan 25, 2019
  • #10
Mustang5L5 said:
I actually think the plug for that was another 2" along the wire.
Click to expand...
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

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,260
17,944
224
Massachusetts
Jan 25, 2019
#11
  • Jan 25, 2019
  • #11
02 281 GT said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs
15 Year Member
Feb 3, 2009
3,208
1,972
194
Cabot, AR
Jan 25, 2019
#12
  • Jan 25, 2019
  • #12
Mustang5L5 said:
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
Click to expand...
Interesting. It's integrated with the rest of the column wires on the same plug on my '95 and on the Mercury.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,933
10,575
203
polk county florida
Jan 25, 2019
#13
  • Jan 25, 2019
  • #13
02 281 GT said:
Interesting. It's integrated with the rest of the column wires on the same plug on my '95 and on the Mercury.
Click to expand...
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

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs
15 Year Member
Feb 3, 2009
3,208
1,972
194
Cabot, AR
Jan 25, 2019
#14
  • Jan 25, 2019
  • #14
General karthief said:
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
Click to expand...
Probably because it's a(n annoying) safety item mandated by the NHTSA.
 

Blown88GT

Founding Member
Nov 13, 1999
2,283
524
164
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Jan 26, 2019
#15
  • Jan 26, 2019
  • #15
02 281 GT said:
Probably because the same module is used for key-in, seatbelt warning, and headlight warning. You lose all three if you just unplug it.
Click to expand...
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.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Where to go from here on my build…
  • B0udreaux
  • Jul 14, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
8
Views
197
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jul 18, 2026
AeroCoupe
Drivetrain 83’ Glx convertible C5 Trans help!
  • JacksonJared2113
  • Dec 25, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
395
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Dec 26, 2025
JacksonJared2113
Anyone know where these wires go to
  • Creomod
  • May 30, 2024
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
14
Views
2K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jun 6, 2024
General karthief
E
Finished my Fox Hydroboost Install - Tips
  • Engineer Duane
  • Apr 9, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
1K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 5, 2025
Engineer Duane
E
M
Progress Thread mnky99 2001 V6 evap core, ac compressor, heater core replacement
  • mnky99
  • Sep 5, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
1
Views
515
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Sep 5, 2025
mnky99
M
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?