This little brown wire

Tirran · Aug 6, 2022

Refitting the wiring loom I now have this brown wire which the label and terminal has disappeared, it comes out of the wiring loom behind the engine and I assume will terminate on the starter solenoid. What is puzzling me is the point it exits the loom, if it is terminated at the starter why would it not go on to the engine loom? Maybe I’m over thinking it.

Can anyone help me identify it, the vehicle is a 200tdi defender. The attached photo shows the wire.

marjon · Aug 6, 2022

Looks like quite a thick wire?
Where else could it reach if you moved it around (but kept it neat)
Do you know where its other end is might give a clue.

J

Stanleysteamer · Aug 6, 2022

Show us a pic of the alternator plug, and, er, could it reach it? or any wire dangling off it?

Tirran · Aug 6, 2022

Some other pics, the wire could easily reach the front of the wing(near side).

steve24v · Aug 6, 2022

I'd say it goes on the alternator, but worth checking where the other end is

Stanleysteamer · Aug 6, 2022

steve24v said:
I'd say it goes on the alternator, but worth checking where the other end is

Still waiting for a pic of the alternator plug. On this model should it have two wires coming out of it, like on so many?
(I only have Discos.)

lynall · Aug 6, 2022

Iirc all the 200 alt wiring goes around the front of the engine and down the drivers side, all the wiring from the starter goes around the rear of the engine including the fat wire from the starter pos terminal all the way around to the alternator, this is excluding the main battery cable.

steve24v · Aug 6, 2022

Can't remember for sure as I've only got my brothers 200tdi to look at, I've had 300tdi but it would be different. Didn't think there is a plug on the 200tdi thought it had a crimped ring on the wire and a studded terminal on the alternator. Could it be a wire from alternator to fuse box maybe?

dag019 · Aug 6, 2022

I am also going to suggest it is from the alternator, as mentioned correctly above the alternator end connection is crimped ring that runs along the front of the engine, down the drivers side of the engine along the back of the engine and then connects to the positive on the starter solenoid with another crimped ring

Tirran · Aug 7, 2022

I’ll get some more pics tomorrow of the alternator and starter solenoid, should that be later today, as I need to remove the wings.
Thanks for the feedback.

Tirran · Aug 7, 2022

I’ve added photographs of the alternator and starter solenoid. I have continuity from the plug on the relay that is mounted on the bulkhead. I believe this is the starter relay, am I correct?
The wire could reach the alternator but is likely to be against the block, it could be connected to the starter solenoid but just has a lot of wire.
If it is routed down the offside of the engine it reaches the water pump.

tottot · Aug 7, 2022

Does not look a standard wire, something added for electric fan?

Tirran · Aug 7, 2022

tottot said:
Does not look a standard wire, something added for electric fan?

No electric fan fitted, and the loom wrapping looks original.

steve24v · Aug 7, 2022

Looks like that relay is for the glow plugs, is there a yellow/brown wire from relay to them?

lynall · Aug 7, 2022

I think brown is ign live.
It is an odd colour so i would suggest is original.

steve24v · Aug 7, 2022

Just looked at the haines manual wiring diagram (I have nothing else to do lol),

(n = brown colour)
Looks like brown is always live ( think white is switched), diagram shows there are 2 wires from starter to alternator, not sure why. That wire of yours is from either-
Fuse box
Starter relay
Ignition switch
I know these wiring diagrams arn't the best, this diagram is models 1991-1994

Stanleysteamer · Aug 7, 2022

steve24v said:
Just looked at the haines manual wiring diagram (I have nothing else to do lol), View attachment 271058
(n = brown colour)
Looks like brown is always live ( think white is switched), diagram shows there are 2 wires from starter to alternator, not sure why. That wire of yours is from either-
Fuse box
Starter relay
Ignition switch
I know these wiring diagrams arn't the best, this diagram is models 1991-1994

If brown is always live, then it can't come FROM the ignition switch although it could be TO the ignition switch.
sorry to be splitting hairs!.
But it does show the two wires from/to the alternator. I have to assume there are two in case one gets bust in some way. Or in order to have wires that are flexible enough to take the max current needed.

steve24v · Aug 7, 2022

Sorry that's what I meant, connects to alternator/starter to power the ignition switch. Looking at the previous model years there is only one brown wire from alternator to starter

Tirran · Aug 7, 2022

steve24v said:
Looks like that relay is for the glow plugs, is there a yellow/brown wire from relay to them?

Yep.

Tirran · Aug 7, 2022

steve24v said:
Just looked at the haines manual wiring diagram (I have nothing else to do lol), View attachment 271058
(n = brown colour)
Looks like brown is always live ( think white is switched), diagram shows there are 2 wires from starter to alternator, not sure why. That wire of yours is from either-
Fuse box
Starter relay
Ignition switch
I know these wiring diagrams arn't the best, this diagram is models 1991-1994

I think this looks like it should be one of the wires connecting from the start relay(mounted in engine bay centre of bulkhead ) and the solenoid.

This little brown wire

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