I've found a random disconnected wire with a funny end in my battery box - another round of CamperJack's what's this wire game! (1 Viewer)

[CamperJack]

I was looking in my starter battery compartment because the 12v sockets in my dashboard work, stop breifly - turning the rear view camera off, and then randomly come back on again!

Anyway, all wires attached to the battery are fastened securely. But I found this disconnected wire down the side of the battery.

I had hoped the bulky black connector would fit the airbag wire that's disconnected from anything and causing my airbag light to remain off but they don't fit together. The wire I found also has what looks like a connection that looks like it belongs on the negative post of the battery.

Air bag is the yellow one.

The random unconnected wire I found is made up of multiple smaller and multicoloured wires. This to me suggests that it's part of the van wiring loom and really should be connected to something!

As some of you will be aware I've been having juddering and stalling issues. Although I think I've fixed this by having a blocked DPF atomiser replaced. But this lose wire must do something. Perhaps it's a contributing factor to the running issues I've been having with the engine and the fact the power to the12v sockets is on / off randomly for short periods.

So does anyone have any idea where this wire should go or what it does??

I'm totally confused.com . Again.

 

[CamperJack]

Should add this is a 2013 boxer panel van I'm converting.

 

[pappajohn]

Been in another thread but I can't remember what it was for.
I do remember it was put back where found.

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[CamperJack]

Been in another thread but I can't remember what it was for.
I do remember it was put back where found.

Thanks!

Hopefully the person who started the thread will see this and point me in the right direction.

 

[Geoff185]

I found the same wire on mine left it as had no idea what was for. Looks like an earth wire but as working ok I left it

 

[CamperJack]

I found the same wire on mine left it as had no idea what was for. Looks like an earth wire but as working ok I left it

Thanks for taking the time to help!

Someone on Facebook has told me that their van has one too. They said the smaller black wire goes to ground but the chunky connector isn't attached to anything.

On yours is the smaller wire connected to ground or battery negative or nothing at all?

I've asked the guy on Facebook and I'm waiting for a response.

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[Geoff185]

Mine was just laying alongside the battery, I thought it should be to the negative terminal but decided to leave it where it was

 

[CamperJack]

Mine was just laying alongside the battery, I thought it should be to the negative terminal but decided to leave it where it was

Does your 12v socket work properly do you know?

 

[Geoff185]

Yes all working ok

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[Burgo]

I believe the looms on the base vehicles are generic. To save money they're mass produced with terminals for all the options for all markets, so it's usual to find the odd one which isn't connected. It could be for something like a fuel tank heater that is an option for the northern Russian market or for rear seat belt warning lights in the US mini bus version.

 

[CamperJack]

Yes all working ok

Maybe the 12v socket issue I'm having isn't related to this random wire then? I'm tempted to run my own wires to the sockets with an inline blade fuse in the batter box and bypass the van's wiring altogether. Obviously adding a switch to the sockets to stop them draining the battery when the engine is off.

I'd still like to know what it's for. It must do something...

It seems very odd to me to have a ground wire not connected and a chunky connector that goes nowhere.

 

[Vipar]

Is it possible to contact the previous owner?

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[CamperJack]

Is it possible to contact the previous owner?

Might not be a bad idea but they were / are a fairly big conservatory fitters. I doubt if I phoned up the business number the person on the other end would have any idea which van I was talking about, let alone the wire.

 

[Figaro]

It seems very odd to me to have a ground wire not connected and a chunky connector that goes nowhere.

I don`t think it`s that odd at all, I`d just leave them and run new wire to you item not working

 

[CamperJack]

I don`t think it`s that odd at all, I`d just leave them and run new wire to you item not working

I am very tempted to do this. I have tried plugging the rear view camera into the socket in the living space and it works perfect. It's definitely the dashboard sockets that are dodgy, not the camera or its wire.

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[Phill D]

I am very tempted to do this. I have tried plugging the rear view camera into the socket in the living space and it works perfect. It's definitely the dashboard sockets that are dodgy, not the camera or its wire.

I have 2 dash sockets next to each other with different rated fuses and my dash sockets were wired to the wrong fuses in the fuse box so kept blowing 1 of the fuses.

swapped the fuses around the the higher value fuse was now for the main socket and all has been well since.

 

[Vipar]

Might not be a bad idea but they were / are a fairly big conservatory fitters. I doubt if I phoned up the business number the person on the other end would have any idea which van I was talking about, let alone the wire.

It might lead you to the garage that maintained their vans. It’s only a phone call. You might be pleasantly surprised. Or as said before leave them tucked away and run your own. But you will wake during the night wondering.

 

[Zoobec]

I believe the looms on the base vehicles are generic. To save money they're mass produced with terminals for all the options for all markets, so it's usual to find the odd one which isn't connected. It could be for something like a fuel tank heater that is an option for the northern Russian market or for rear seat belt warning lights in the US mini bus version.

Yes, I think this is definitely the case. For example, our van has a seat belt pretensioner cable on the passenger side, and there certainly isn’t a passenger side airbag!

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[Grummyb]

I'm guessing Peugeot will only have 1 wiring loom that will cover all the different spec boxes and the plugs are for things that havnt been added to your van do I would just leave them where you found them

 

[TheBig1]

absolutely, it's a standard loom and that plug is not used in most vans

 

[CamperJack]

absolutely, it's a standard loom and that plug is not used in most vans

So the earth cable doesn't need to be attached?

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[XxAnthxX]

Are the faulty sockets the ones you replaced here?

Putting in another 12v socket in the cab of my Boxer.

This should be straight forward, or so I thought. But as a total novice, a slight deviation from the expected can throw you off. And that's what's happened here. I opened the panel up and found three cables, not the expected two - I was hoping to see a red and a black one. However there is...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

If so I’d suspect the fault is the cheap Chinese sockets rather than the wiring.

 

[Deneb]

It's a cable for additional vehicle battery connection for ambulances and other conversions. Often comes as standard with the spec of Sevel cabs ordered by MH converters, but not used by them so can be ignored. Just tuck it back down the side of the battery.

 

[Bessy765]

If you have two spare plugs they may well be for heated seats, or seat belt warnings. Same wiring loom used on many different levels of equipment.

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[Minxy]

Put them back where you found them but before you do tape up the ends so you can't accidentally get a short etc (better safe than sorry).

As for your socket issue, check the wiring is okay, no nicks etc in it (well as much as you can) and also the socket you bought.

 

[CamperJack]

Are the faulty sockets the ones you replaced here?

Putting in another 12v socket in the cab of my Boxer.

This should be straight forward, or so I thought. But as a total novice, a slight deviation from the expected can throw you off. And that's what's happened here. I opened the panel up and found three cables, not the expected two - I was hoping to see a red and a black one. However there is...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

If so I’d suspect the fault is the cheap Chinese sockets rather than the wiring.

Thanks. It's a good idea but I've already tested this by removing the sockets and attaching one I know works.

 

[gus-lopez]

Check the lead you think is a negative with a meter. On lead on the cable the other to the chassis .If a circuit then just connect to the neg on battery.

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[CamperJack]

Going against some advice I connected the lug of this wire to the negetive battery post.

It seems to have cured the issue I was having with my sockets and the van has had no fits of jolting or stalling since.

Coincidence? Who knows!

I reckon it's got a brain all of its own and it has major mood swings.

Perhaps it is happy because I'm using it as my run around for shopping for both myself and my grandparents and such like. Perhaps it feels less envious of the car now I'm using it to try and test it out?

 

[XxAnthxX]

Try taking it back off and see if the sockets go bananas again....then you’ll know if it was coincidence.

 

[CamperJack]

Try taking it back off and see if the sockets go bananas again....then you’ll know if it was coincidence.

I'm scared of upsetting it again.

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