I had wife's car on the rack changing the motor oil. While waiting for the oil to drain, I shined flashlight through a holes in the engine undercover looking for anything out of the ordinary. Through one of the openings, I could barely see a metal bracket dangling from a cable. Removed the undercover and found a black 3/8" cable with a 'L' shaped bracket (approx 3"-4" long with 2-round + 1- square hole) on the end of it. Traced wire back to the ground side of the battery. About 12" back from the bracket, wire is clipped to the Rt side of frame or fender. I moved cable end around trying to see where it might have come from. I couldn't find anywhere that the bracket would fit to. Had another mechanic check and he had no luck either.

Does anyone know where this bracket (with the cable attached) mounts? Thanks for replies.

 

komtrax,

Sounds like the alternator ground bracket. It fits on the lowest bolt of your alternator. Remove the lowest bolt, slip the bracket on and there should be a " flat spot " on the alternator body for the side of the bracket to rest against. Did someone work on your wife's car recently ? That bracket could never just " fall off ".

Regards.

 

Thanks for your reply!.
Lexus Dealership put a wiper motor on it 5 - years ago. Other than that, I am the only one who has ever serviced her car sence it was bought used in 2004. I am headed out to do it's 2nd major service as soon as I send this. I will look at the mounting spot you referred to. Thanks again.

 

komtrax,

Were you able to figure out how the wire fits ?

Regards,

 

There's a very similar wire on the 1uz-fe that bolts to the bottom of the a/c compressor, right above the air filter.

 

In 1981, I took a job as a field software specialist for Digital Equipment Corp. We all had company cars back then and I picked up a brand new Pontiac Phoenix from the dealer. About halfway home from the dealership, the car coasted to a stop and wouldn't restart. The car was towed and my wife picked me up. A ground strap had fallen off the engine.

 

"It just took a little Pontiac know-how, to bring Phoenix down to earth"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUmbwLDN7ew ('81 Phoenix commercial)

 

LOL

I had two of those GM X-body(?) cars in a row for company cars - the 81 Phoenix and an 83 Olds Omega 4-door sedan. After the ground strap incident, they were two of my better company cars. I was driving about 30-35K miles per year and we only kept them until 50K miles before getting a new one.