Squirrel Chewed Wires

[riewem1]

Does anyone know what this pictured connector is for? I had a squirrel make a nest under the intake of my 01 Sport Trac and of course it had to chew some wires while it was there. I'm trying to get it straightened out but can't figure out where one goes. It is the connector that is on top of the passenger side valve cover. It comes from the main harness bundle under the intake, up to the pictured connector, then down by the coolant temp sensors (which they also chewed up) but that is were it is chewed off and don't know where it goes from there. The wires are yellow and black or gray. It did still run and drive with the severed wires. It seems I lost cold AC if it could possibly be related.

 

[riewem1]

 

[swshawaii]

https://www.google.com/search?q=spo...ved=0ahUKEwiG6f7h-9TMAhVN_WMKHVD6BcQQ_AUICCgC

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...onnector,13326?a=Referer+www.google.com+URL+/

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...66680,emission,knock+(detonation)+sensor,5108

 

[N2FORD]

Honda (and maybe others) has come out with "rodent tape", its like electrical tape that has pepper sauce in it to keep critters from eating the wires. From what I was told the shielding around wires is soy based and that's why they like to eat it.

 

[koda2000]

The only thing under the intake manifold (that I'm aware of) is the knock sensor, so swhawaii is probably correct. The engine will run pretty well w/out it connected. The knock sensor alerts the PCM of pre-ignition/pinging so that the PCM can retard the ignition timing a bit. Until you get a replacement connector run premium fuel to be safe.

 

[riewem1]

Thanks for the info. I have all the parts and now I just need to put everything back together. I can't seem to keep the rodents out of it. This will be the forth air filter in it this winter/spring because of mice and squirrel nests in the air box.

I have another related question. A squirrel previously chewed threw a pair of coolant temp sensor wires. It caused my CEL to come on as well as the temp gauge in the dash to stop working. I took the intake off to get to the wires, wired on a new connector, and put everything back together only to find out that the gauge still didn't work but the computer was satisfied enough with what I did for it to turn off the CEL. Any thoughts? Could I have gotten the two wires wired backwards or is it like a switch and doesn't really matter?

 

[koda2000]

Thanks for the info. I have all the parts and now I just need to put everything back together. I can't seem to keep the rodents out of it. This will be the forth air filter in it this winter/spring because of mice and squirrel nests in the air box.

I have another related question. A squirrel previously chewed threw a pair of coolant temp sensor wires. It caused my CEL to come on as well as the temp gauge in the dash to stop working. I took the intake off to get to the wires, wired on a new connector, and put everything back together only to find out that the gauge still didn't work but the computer was satisfied enough with what I did for it to turn off the CEL. Any thoughts? Could I have gotten the two wires wired backwards or is it like a switch and doesn't really matter?

Depending on which engine you have, the gauge sender has one wire or 2 (V8's have 1). I would think that if you have 2 wires and reversed them it could very well prevent the gauge from registering. I've hooked them up backwards (at the gauge) on classic cars and the hotter the coolant got the colder the gauge indicated.

As far as keeping the mice out of your air box, remove the air box and zip tie some metal window screen over the tube that goes through the radiator core (I think that's where the tubes goes. It might go through the fender).

I'll bet if you Google it, there's some suggestions on keeping rodents out of you engine compartment.

 

[swshawaii]

Check this out.

http://www.ranger-forums.com/engine-drivetrain-122/how-airbox-mod-132753/#post2044731

 

[koda2000]

Check this out.

http://www.ranger-forums.com/engine-drivetrain-122/how-airbox-mod-132753/#post2044731

With a hole that big you could get beavers living in your air box... LOL