Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Unknown cable unhooked, can you identify?

[Davcruz]

I noticed this cable in the pics below unhooked yesterday. I have had the truck for 30 days and I did not unhook it, but it appears to have been purposefully disconnected and tied back.



Any ideas where it goes/what it is for? It is about a 2-4 AWG and is black with ring terminals on both ends, routes in front of the engine through a convoluted tubing.



My theory is it is a ground between the fuse box and the alternator.



#ad




#ad

 

[johncameron]

Is that a FRAM oil filter... ... .

 

[AllianceDiesel]

That looks like a ground cable that I think runs from the alternator to either battery ground or a body ground by the batter, it looks really familiar

 

[johncameron]

Open the fusebox and see if there is a black ground cable coming in beside the positive cable.

 

[Davcruz]

Is that a FRAM oil filter... ... .

Yes... it appears to be, judging by the bright orange color and the black FRAM label. Why do you ask?

 

[johncameron]

Yes... it appears to be, judging by the bright orange color and the black FRAM label. Why do you ask?

I've read here on TDR that they have a higher failure rate than other quality filters. They ca



I've read here on TDR that they have a higher failure rate than other quality filters. They can blow out and block the oil from getting where it shoud be going. After reading that I've only used cummins approved filters.



John

 

[Davcruz]

I've read here on TDR that they have a higher failure rate than other quality filters. They ca



I've read here on TDR that they have a higher failure rate than other quality filters. They can blow out and block the oil from getting where it shoud be going. After reading that I've only used cummins approved filters.



John

I was unaware of that, I did not put it on, the oil was changed a day before I bought the truck 4 weeks ago. I am going to change it next week. Putting a Fleetguard on it.

 

[Davcruz]

Open the fusebox and see if there is a black ground cable coming in beside the positive cable.

Only a small maybe 8 AWG connected directly to the neg battery terminal.



#ad

 

[AllianceDiesel]

I need to be corrected looked at a wiring diagram and I do believe thats the power wire that goes to the back of the alternator, let me do some looking to see where it hooks up



I don't like fram filters either, I only reccomend fleetguard/mopar filters

 

[AllianceDiesel]

Ok looks like it should run from the back of the alternator on a stud with a nut to the 140A fuse right there where that little homemade wire is, someone should check it on thier truck to make sure but I'm pretty positive thats what that is and that wire they have there (if it goes to the alternator) is way to small for the load.

 

[Davcruz]

Ok looks like it should run from the back of the alternator on a stud with a nut to the 140A fuse right there where that little homemade wire is, someone should check it on thier truck to make sure but I'm pretty positive thats what that is and that wire they have there (if it goes to the alternator) is way to small for the load.

Any idea why it may have been disconnected? That is what concerns me.

Also, it is BLACK, would the alternator power lead not be RED? That little wire you are seeing is running from the battery down to that fuse box.

 

[AllianceDiesel]

TSB 09-004-01 -2-

Part No. Manufactuer

05016547AC Mopar

LF3894 Fleetguard Stratopore

LF3552 Fleetguard Microglas

LF3959 Fleetguard Cellulose

3937695 Cummins Cellulose

FL896 MotorCraft Cellulose

L45335 Purolator Cellulose

PF1070 AC Delco Cellulose

 

[KLockliear]

Get the Stratapore - LF 3894.

 

[Davcruz]

Any other ideas what this cable is? Can someone go look under their hood for it on their truck? I would very much appreciate it.

 

[ed9824v]

Any other ideas what this cable is? Can someone go look under their hood for it on their truck? I would very much appreciate it.

do you have all the wire to the grid heat relay in place, mine were off when I got my truck. 98. 5 24v

 

[Bob V]

Looks like someone has ran a new ground wire from the alt to the battery. This was probably done to keep electrical "noise" from the APPS circuit. This fix was in the TDR magazene a while ago

 

[Bob V]

After a second look it might be the "hot" wire from the alt to batt. Did someone wire in a battery isolator for a trailer/camper?

 

[WestTN]

The problem with Fram filters is that they use RTV in the filter that can come loose and plug piston cooling jets. If this happens you will have an engine failure.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Any other ideas what this cable is? Can someone go look under their hood for it on their truck? I would very much appreciate it.

Oh, yeah.



That's the Fram Oil Filter warning system power cable. When it's hooked up, your motor will climb off of it's mounts under the hood, come around to the drivers side door and ask you if you are out of your flipping mind.



Your problems aren't that cable. The psi the Cummins oil pump puts down is WAY too much for that POS Fram filter. Changing it next week might be too late. I would change it now.



Right now.

 

[lholley]

The cable your talking about appears to be your alternator output wire and it was a hot wire.

Even though it has black insulation it is NOT a ground wire. It ran from the output stud on the back of your alternator to the rear most stud on your power distribution block.

You have a serious problem on your power distribution block. The positive battery clamp on the driver's side is not the original one. It should have a 4 gauge wire from the positive battery clanp to the front stud on the power distribution block, with the front and rear studs tied together by the 140 amp fuse.

Find another truck in your area as soon as possible and look at the power distribution block. That little wire on the front stud on your power distribution block is a fire hazard.



Larry