Negative battery cable just dangling udner engine?

[tuhockey11]

Was under the car today doing some work and saw a large black cable with a loop on the end just hanging by the steering rack. Traced it up and its the negative battery cable! There is still a little ground wire going from the battery to the firewall, but the large cable is just dangling there. I dont see anything close by that it connects to, where does it go? Any help appreciated

 

[Deleted member 87397]

Goes to a post on the starter solenoid. Take a look at it and see if you can tell which side it came off. The starter solenoid is on the drivers side fender near the battery,

 

[tuhockey11]

There are cables on both posts of the solenoid. It looks like some are not factory. I remember hearing that new wires had to be routed to the starte solenoid when installing a mini-starter. I just checked and it looks like the car does have a mini-starter. Either way, is this calbe supposed to be hooked up somwhere? It is pretty long and just hanging there

 

[Mustang5L5]

The starter solenoid does not have any negative wires on it. They are all positive.

The negative battery cable connects to a bolt on the engine block on the passenger side of the engine right next to the timing pointer.

 

[SuperStang83]

Yeha Mustang 5L5 is right it is back behind the water pump sort of on the driver side.

 

[tuhockey11]

Thanks guys, would that cable being unhooked cause any problems? Ive been having some small electrical issues.

 

[Saleen0679]

It's your main electrical ground. I'm surprised your electrical issues are small.
Also, make sure your connection point for that cable is clean and tight.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I'm surprised the car even runs!!

 

[tuhockey11]

I thought the same thing when I saw it hanging there! Actually, the car runs excellent, a bit of a high idle i need to chase down and the gauges seem to hardly work, but other than that, lights are bright and everything else works as it should. Oh well, cant hurt to put it back where it goes....thanks guys

 

[tuhockey11]

Wait, Mustang5L5 says it bolts to the pass side and SuperStang83 says its on the drivers....im sure ill figure it out when I get back under there, but which one is it?

 

[Mustang5L5]

I could have sworn it was right next to the timing pointer. If it's not there, then it's on the driver's side in the same area. 50/50 chance.

What you'll see is a flattened area with threads. A bolt thread into here holding the cable there

 

[Fast63]

yeah I am surprised your starter will roll over

 

[I candy]

I was attempting to do an R@R on my cable wires last night. I know exactly where it goes. Its on the driver side. near the front. by where the frist header is. there is also a 'bell' looking thing with a wire on it. its in front of that. I think it hooks to a 15mm bolt.

DOn't quote me on that past bolt part. i couldn't really see at night.

if you could remove the steering pump i belive it would make life easier.

 

[SuperStang83]

Yeha I remember I just did one 2 weeks ago. Did you find where it goes yet man?

 

[tuhockey11]

Not yet, Ill take a look today after work, been pretty busy. Car still runs excellent, how wierd is that?

 

[90bluegt]

Just bolt it to a solid point on the engine. When I changed motor mounts, I have solid metal mounts and bolted it there. Works great.