Chewed wires + help identifying a part

[y_p_w]

2004 WRX.

I opened the hood to check the fluid levels and found
leaves and pine needles resting on a part. Then I
noticed a completely severed wire. A later inspection
yielded a chewed cover over some ground wires - about 8
wires merged to the same connector bolted to the
throttle body.

Yep - it was a mouse.

The ground wires seem to be in decent shape. Only a
couple are exposed and I figure they can be easily
patched.

I don't know exactly how to describe the first wire I
noticed cut. It's located on the part just next to the
alternator - to the right when looking from the front.
The wire is gray with a plastic snap-in connector that
goes to a wire leading to the wiring harness. The
other end dissapears behind a plastic tab. Any idea
what this does and how this might be repaired?

I checked a local Subaru dealer, and they said the
wires were only available as a complete harness. If
there's more damage, I might just go to my insurance
company.

 

[mulder]

2004 WRX.

I opened the hood to check the fluid levels and found
leaves and pine needles resting on a part. Then I
noticed a completely severed wire. A later inspection
yielded a chewed cover over some ground wires - about 8
wires merged to the same connector bolted to the
throttle body.

Yep - it was a mouse.

The ground wires seem to be in decent shape. Only a
couple are exposed and I figure they can be easily
patched.

I don't know exactly how to describe the first wire I
noticed cut. It's located on the part just next to the
alternator - to the right when looking from the front.
The wire is gray with a plastic snap-in connector that
goes to a wire leading to the wiring harness. The
other end dissapears behind a plastic tab. Any idea
what this does and how this might be repaired?

It sounds like you are describing the wiring for the air conditioning
compressor.

I checked a local Subaru dealer, and they said the
wires were only available as a complete harness. If
there's more damage, I might just go to my insurance
company.

True, Subaru will not sell you a partial harness or just the
connectors. You might be able to get what you need from a wreck in a
junkyard but I think if you're asking what the parts in the engine are
you probably wouldn't be fixing this yourself.

 

[y_p_w]

It sounds like you are describing the wiring for the air conditioning
compressor.


True, Subaru will not sell you a partial harness or just the
connectors. You might be able to get what you need from a wreck in a
junkyard but I think if you're asking what the parts in the engine are
you probably wouldn't be fixing this yourself.

I'm thinking of fixing it myself. The ground wire bundle looks
fairly easy to do with some high quality electrical tape (I
heard 3M Super 33+ will do the trick) to cover the exposed
insulation, and some heat shrink tubing to seal the bundle.

I'm not so sure about the wire on what you say is likely the
compressor. It's knawed at several places along the length of
the wire and severed almost right at the connector. There's
not enough length to splice it. I'm thinking of attaching a new
wire to the connector, and splicing it to the length of wire there
now. I'm not sure this is possible though, although this may
be some sort of standard connector. I'm not sure if this is a
ground or a control wire. The other end seems to be really
hard to reach, even though I can see where it goes. It's wedged
really tight.

 

[Jim Stewart]

2004 WRX.

I opened the hood to check the fluid levels and found
leaves and pine needles resting on a part. Then I
noticed a completely severed wire. A later inspection
yielded a chewed cover over some ground wires - about 8
wires merged to the same connector bolted to the
throttle body.

Yep - it was a mouse.

The ground wires seem to be in decent shape. Only a
couple are exposed and I figure they can be easily
patched.

I don't know exactly how to describe the first wire I
noticed cut. It's located on the part just next to the
alternator - to the right when looking from the front.
The wire is gray with a plastic snap-in connector that
goes to a wire leading to the wiring harness. The
other end dissapears behind a plastic tab. Any idea
what this does and how this might be repaired?

I checked a local Subaru dealer, and they said the
wires were only available as a complete harness. If
there's more damage, I might just go to my insurance
company.

I'm kinda buried at work today, but if you
can wait til this evening, I'll snap you
a bunch of pictures of the area on my wife's
04 WRX and email them to you.

-jim

 

[y_p_w]

I'm kinda buried at work today, but if you
can wait til this evening, I'll snap you
a bunch of pictures of the area on my wife's
04 WRX and email them to you.

Oh - I have pictures.

Compressor wire:
<http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/337/compressorwire4uk.jpg>

Yes - it was the compressor. I have no A/C right now, although
it's not a big deal in the winter. There's still a pine
needle in the picture.

Ground harness:
<http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/623/groundharness4aq.jpg>

 

[Jim Stewart]

Oh - I have pictures.

Compressor wire:
<http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/337/compressorwire4uk.jpg>

Yes - it was the compressor. I have no A/C right now, although
it's not a big deal in the winter. There's still a pine
needle in the picture.

Ground harness:
<http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/623/groundharness4aq.jpg>

I'm sorry. I quickly read your post before I had
my coffee and I thought you needed to know *where*
the wires go. That's pretty clear from the pictures.

I'd not bother with an insurance claim. I think there
would be too much trouble and risk that changing the
harness would break something else.

The ground wire is easy. Just wrap it with some
high-temperature electrical tape. I have a 3m
product that's part teflon and part plastic good
for something like 400 degrees C. I'll send you
a partial roll if you like. Unfortunately, the
color is white.

The compressor switch is a little harder. I'd pull
off the connector that was on the flying lead and
try to trim back the plastic until I could find
some copper. Solder a new wire onto the copper,
slather on some RTV or epoxy then apply headshrink
tubing. Splice the end of the new wire to the old
wire and tape or heatshrink. It looks like you'd
have to tape it because there's not enough room
for heatshrink. Alternately use a buttsplice.