Mystery wire connection

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Apr 21, 2014 | 02:39 PM

kefrko

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Mar 2013

Posts: 343

Likes: 5

From: Plumsteadville PA

Mystery wire connection

This is probably an easy one but what is the two wire harness that appears to plug in on the back side of the fuel bowl just to the drivers side of the fuel drain valve. I was poking around my engine and saw it dangling there and saw the other end sticking out of the fuel bowl. Is it for the fuel bowl heater? I tried to reconnect it but the harness doesn't lock in. Almost like it can't go on far enough. I'm thinking this might have had something to do with some harder starts in the winter if that's what it is

Apr 21, 2014 | 02:48 PM

F250_

Hotshot

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 11,286

Likes: 263

From: North of Greenville

Yes... fuel bowl heater.

Could have been unplugged by a previous owner due to a short in the heating element.
Could have been inadvertently left unplugged by someone after doing maintenance in the valley.

Might not be able to re-secure it due to a broken locking tab being missing, or something is inside the female connector housing.

Get a mirror on a stick and see if you can look up inside to inspect the locking mechanism and/or inside the female connector housing for trash.

Apr 21, 2014 | 02:53 PM

Pikachu

Lead Driver

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 6,335

Likes: 588

From: Amarillo, TEXAS!

It's also the wire for the water-in-fuel sender. The fuel heater being unplugged isn't likely to contribute to a hard cold start, though.

Apr 21, 2014 | 03:41 PM

kefrko

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Mar 2013

Posts: 343

Likes: 5

From: Plumsteadville PA

I squirted a little electrical connection cleaner in there and worked it back and forth and it finally clicked. What would a short in the heating element mean to me. Is it something I need to worry about. Is it hazardous?

Apr 21, 2014 | 03:53 PM

kefrko

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Mar 2013

Posts: 343

Likes: 5

From: Plumsteadville PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikachu

It's also the wire for the water-in-fuel sender. The fuel heater being unplugged isn't likely to contribute to a hard cold start, though.

What does the heater do? I would have thought it had something to do with preheating the fuel just prior to combustion? Or does that help separate water out of the fuel?

Apr 21, 2014 | 04:12 PM

t.scottNDU

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 498

Likes: 0

From: Hagerstown, MD

Many leave the heater/WIF sensor connector unplugged because it shares a 30A fuse with the PCM. When/If the heater shorts out it will blow the fuse that powers both the heater and PCM, leaving you with a no start.

I won't speculate as to the point of the bowl heater... But I do leave it plugged in and haven't had any negative or known positive effects.

Apr 21, 2014 | 04:43 PM

Pikachu

Lead Driver

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 6,335

Likes: 588

From: Amarillo, TEXAS!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kefrko

What does the heater do? I would have thought it had something to do with preheating the fuel just prior to combustion? Or does that help separate water out of the fuel?

With the dead end flow to the heads, the fuel already in the heads wouldn't see much of the warmed fuel until the engine was already running and consuming the fuel in the rail. I'd venture a guess the heater would do more to keep the fuel in the tank and lines from gelling while driving than it does for anything else.