I don't know what this thing is or does. Tried to take some pics but it was hard to capture--this was connected from just below the radiator hose (on inside of fender) to the area somewhat below the power steering fluid resevoir. At that point it is wrapped in with all the wiring.

First pic shows where it was located and the second kinda shows where it broke:





It's a '98 camaro v8 with over 100,000 miles. Basically I spotted it and it was so worn out I thought it was a strip of grey paper that flew up in there. I picked it up with as much effort as one would use to pick out an old dry leaf youd find wedged somewhere and it just tore apart like nothing...completely brittle, but revealing a cross pattern of orange fibers inside. It was bolted to the metal like some type of wiring, but again it felt like paper inside and out and def not metal.

I had a leaky water pump last year and recently leaking steering fluid, so that may have added to the bad condition this thing was in. Was this some type of ground wire? I don't know-- I don't want to start the car until I can get some advice on if this is a serious problem.

I realize I may not be explaining it well enough so please don't hesitate to let me know or ask me anything. Thanks in advance!

 

actually kinda looks like a old corroded ground strap. can you locate both mounting points?

 

The one mounting point is in the area right below the bend in the radiator hose. That one is within sight and reach, but the other one is not...it joins with all the other wiring that's wrapped together at that point (behind that belt pully/below steering fluid) and runs between the motor and other parts, where there is virtually no space, and towards the rear of the engine bay.

 

It's a ground strap. It goes from the body/frame to the motor block just to the rear of the alternator.
You need to replace it, but any good heavy peice of wire (12 gauge or better) will do the job.
Grounds are critical on these cars.

 

Yep, it's a ground strap and they are very weak to begin with, i also had to replace mine.

 

Wrong... I second the above ^^ back of alternator to frame rail. No biggy

 

Thanks guys--Anyone have any advice on how to reach the connection behind the alternator? There's no room from the top and seems just as limited when I tried to reach from underneath the car.

I haven't tried to start it since this broke so any additional help would be much appreciated.

 

If you're trying to get to the alternator connection the alternator has to pretty much come out.

 

Ugh... What would happen if I tried to start it and get it home (about 5-10 miles)? If it would start am I risking damage?

 

You'll be fine it's just a ground strap, and the wire doesn't go on the alternator, it goes behind it. There's a bolt that holds that wire on the engine block, from the block it goes to the frame/chassis. Jack the car up, look in the alternator area and i guarantee you'll see the other half of the wire still attached, you may or may not have to move the alternator to get to it, not too sure it's been a while.

 

I think the cruise and a few other accessories run off that. Ask me how I know! Car will run fine, no big deal.

-Geoff

 

Thanks everyone for the continuing help!

Any advice on how to get a wrench on the one bolt holding the alternator that faces towards the back of the car? The two facing the front are no problem, plenty of room there, but I caN barely get my hand on the rear bolt let alone a socket wrench...

I took off the two front bolts and the other rear bracket bolt but the alternator isn't budging.

 

Ok-- got it off but I can't see or reach in there enough to remove and replace it. I'll have to try getting the car up on some tall ramps or something, or else just bite the bullet and pay to have it fixed, which would really suck.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

Don't get hung up on getting the old wire out or putting the new wire in the harness. Just get a new wire/make a new wire and bolt it from point a to point b. Then zip tie it too the harness. It is after all a ground wire.