Loose Wire Under Bonnet

steveallmond · Unread post by **steveallmond** » 03 Jun 2004, 02:35

Hi All,
I bought a W plate Saxo VTR a few months ago, opened the bonnet to find a loose wire just hanging there. It is just in front of the exhast manifold, and behind the radiator. It is quite low down and green in colour.
(Picture below)

Does anyone have a clue where this might go or if it indeed should be loose. Could anyone with a Saxo have a quick look under their bonnet for this mystery wire?!
Thanks
Steve

ItDontGo · Unread post by **ItDontGo** » 03 Jun 2004, 03:46

It looks like a diagnostic socket. If it is it will be for connecting diagnostics when there is a fault.
Having said that it's an odd place to have one!

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 03 Jun 2004, 04:15

Steve - anything that does not seem to work as expected ?

wheeler · Unread post by **wheeler** » 03 Jun 2004, 04:33

its definitely not the diagnostic socket as thats inside the car.it looks to me like the plug for the lambda sensor,follow it & see if it goes into the exhaust downpipe,if it is this connector then the other half is above the gearbox at the side of the cylinder head.
surely though if this is the lambda sensor plug if its disconected the car cant be running ok & will be using too much fuel,i would think the engine management light would come on also.does the engine management light come on when you switch the ignition on then go out a few seconds after you start the car(possible bulb removed) ? its the only thing i can think of with a 4 pin plug like that.
has the catalytic convertor been removed from the car ?

paranoid · Unread post by **paranoid** » 03 Jun 2004, 10:43

I'm sure thats a lambda connector, mine was dissconnected for a year without any running problems (rover 416) only realised what the wire was, when doing the emmissions for the MOT.
Has it had a go faster exhaust on at all, I have seen them without holes for sensor in the past, you may have problems MOT time if so[V]

steveallmond · Unread post by **steveallmond** » 03 Jun 2004, 13:26

Hi All, thanks for your replys,
Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary (except for the airbag light flashing all the time). The engine runs smoothly and the management light comes on and then off after a few seconds. It still has the original exhast on it including the cat.
Any other ideas very welcome!
Thanks

ItDontGo · Unread post by **ItDontGo** » 03 Jun 2004, 16:27

Lambda sensors dont have that type of plastic connectors because they melt! They usually just have a foot of wiring coming from them dont they?

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 03 Jun 2004, 19:59

Well - the airbag light flashing seems to be a common Citroen problem, caused by dislodged connectors/wires in the front seats. Have a look on the wiring under the front seats.
If nothing else seem to be wrong, you may certainly get help from a MOT tester, when time comes. They will only fail your car if something is wrong. They see lots of different cars everyday, and may know what the connector is for.
They do help owners with weird problems.

steveallmond · Unread post by **steveallmond** » 03 Jun 2004, 21:43

Hi,
Thanks all for your help - I've found it's home. There was another cable hanging above the gearbox which was the 'female' connector for the wire. It was the lambda cable as the other end went to the exhast.
Wierd how the engine was running sweet as anything before and it doesn't seem to have made any difference but still got is sorted!
Thanks!