Mystery wire/plug located near the tie rod

Tiny
ETERNALARIANNE
  • MEMBER
  • 1987 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY
  • 2.8L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,210 MILES
I was swapping out the power steering pump on my car and I saw down by the left side tie rod (if looking from front of the car) a plug that is unhooked. It looks to be two-prong and attached to a wire harness.

I can't find any good diagrams of the wiring that show what this could be, I was wondering if anyone here had an ideas? I can post a picture if needed but it's dark outside right now.
Saturday, January 9th, 2021 AT 4:01 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I'm Danny.

Yes, can you use your cell phone when it's light out to take a few pictures of the wire harness from a few angles and upload here? We will be happy to help once you get back to us with the pictures. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Saturday, January 9th, 2021 AT 4:09 PM
Tiny
ETERNALARIANNE
  • MEMBER
  • 189 POSTS
Sorry for the quality this is the best I can get it’s kind of cramped. I used the flash on my phone to try to make it better and circled the plug in question. Also, upon further inspection, it is a two prong plug but only one wire (the other prong is not used).

As I said, it on the passenger front side by the tie rod.
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Sunday, January 10th, 2021 AT 7:35 AM
Tiny
DANNY L
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Hello again.

Just curious to know. Is the red brake light on the dashboard illuminated? Any type of drivability condition? Get back to us and we'll go from there. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.

Danny-
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Monday, January 11th, 2021 AT 11:14 PM
Tiny
ETERNALARIANNE
  • MEMBER
  • 189 POSTS
My neighbor thought. It might be the ABS brake but there is no light on the dash and it drives/brakes fine. The only issue I’m having is intermittent erratic idling but all the sensors are on the top half of the motor and this wire is too short to have fell down from there.
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Tuesday, January 12th, 2021 AT 3:03 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,512 POSTS
What is the wire wrapped around? Is that a battery cable or AC line? Can we get a better picture please?
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Saturday, January 16th, 2021 AT 2:56 PM
Tiny
ETERNALARIANNE
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  • 189 POSTS
It isn’t wrapped around anything, the harness it just really short. This is about a good a pic I can get. I was wrong it is near the passenger CV axle, the tie rod is further back. It does look like the same harness is plugged into something around where the CV axle connects to the transmission, as well as a single wire going to the back of the motor near the exhaust. Hope that helps.
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Sunday, January 17th, 2021 AT 8:55 AM
Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,673 POSTS
Hello, was there any type of cap on the plug of that wire? And it looks dark green, can you clean it off alittle so we can see the color abit better.

It looks like there are 2 different options for automatic transmission. It might be an optional thermo element that can be added for the Hydra-matic 4T60 and THM F-7 transaxle. If you're not having any problems with the transmission, you might just want to cover the connector end. It might have had a cover on it at one point.
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Sunday, January 17th, 2021 AT 6:43 PM
Tiny
ETERNALARIANNE
  • MEMBER
  • 189 POSTS
Hello, I cleaned it off and it just looks black to me but maybe it’s dark green like you said? Yeah, it seems to drive fine and has plenty of power, must be an unused connector for my configuration.

Thanks
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Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 AT 6:52 AM
Tiny
AL514
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That's the only conclusion I can come up with, I went through the wiring diagrams pretty thoroughly and I don't see any extra places it would go. If there's no open missing plug ports on the transmission, it must be for a different optional transmission. Plus it can only stretch so far, if nothing is within reach of it, I'd cover it with something and try not to worry too much. There definitely is 2 or 3 different transmissions that can be in that model/year. It's only 1 wire so it's not like the 2 pins inside are going to short out or anything. Unless you see a wire hanging down that could go to it, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Hope this helps. Of course let us know if you have any problems, but it was wise of you to ask about it. Cheers.
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+1
Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 AT 7:29 AM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

Yes, it sounds like an unused harness for a different transmission option. If the car is running fine then there should be nothing to worry about. You might want to consider using something to cap it off to keep moisture and debris out to protect the wires. Thanks again for using 2CarPros and we hope you will use our site again in the future when needed.

Danny-
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Saturday, January 23rd, 2021 AT 4:54 PM
Tiny
TANNER WILLIAM STUMP
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
It’s the TCC solenoid for the overdrive lock up. I noticed mine was unplugged I plugged it in and couldn’t go over 40 without violent shaking but car drives excellent with it unplugged.
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Wednesday, March 31st, 2021 AT 8:01 PM
Tiny
AL514
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  • 4,673 POSTS
That's too bad, the torque converter clutch is locked up. You'll lose some gas mileage without it, but it's better than having your car feel like it's going to shake apart.
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Friday, April 2nd, 2021 AT 12:18 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

It's possible the TCC solenoid is accessible by removing the transmission pan and located near the valve body. If so, most transmission repair shops will do the repair. If it's buried somewhere inside then most shops won't fix and just sell you a transmission rebuild. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.

Danny-
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Saturday, April 10th, 2021 AT 10:21 AM

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