Hi,

I have a new to me 88 E-350 and found a seriously burned wire in the harness connector that goes to the engine compartment. I believe the wire that is burned is #37 which is a white wire with a red stripe. I'm amazed the unit didn't burn to the ground and she'll definitely be out of service until I can rectify the problem. Anybody know the purpose for that one?

Thanks for your help!

88 E-series, wire 37 is burned, white wire w/red stripe

 

Just in case no one else knows the answer..
I have a 1988 e150 and also have the complete factory wiring diagram but have never used it.. It is 58 sections on large fold out pages that connect together like map pages with numbers at the top and bottom and letters on the left and right side.

Again i have never used it and only glanced at it when i first received it so in reality I have no idea how it really works, yet!

I can tell you that I found a White with Red stripe that comes out of the instrument panel connector and runs across 3 pages (at this point) to a connector called E6DB- 14A464-BA and that is as far as i have gotten and have to get to bed but will be back tomorrow afternoon and will search a bit more...


They look like this:
1988 Ford Econoline Van E150 E250 E350 wiring diagram SHEET service manual | eBay

Here is an EVTM that would also be handy for you if you dont have one.May be able to look around and find on e cheaper not sure
1988 Ford Econoline Van E150 E250 E350 wiring diagram SHEET service manual | eBay

 

Are you sure it is not #31? It looks like 37 to me from your pic
the White W/R stripe I found on the diagram defiantly goes to what is labeled, IP Cluster and is numbered as #31. As soon as I can figure out the magic code to the connecting pages, hopefully I can find where the other end connects to. But if it is truly coming from the instrument cluster and going through the firewall with no connections or splices in between, my guess at this point would be it is for one of the gauges to a sending unit or the alternator.

Sorry for the bad photos but I was in a hurry..
BTW the connector in the bottom diagram, I am thinking the connector you are looking for should be the same. If so it has 8 wires, 4 on each end. I am just guessing here though

 

also check the oil sending unit wire color. I know this chart doesn't say econoline but the F series and bronco were very similar. check out #31

And you are sure it is not white W/pink stripe?

Scan through this list below for any and all white wires with a red stripe and see what they go to..

http://www.revbase.com/BBBMOTOR/TSb/...adPdf?id=21412

 

Hi Annaleigh,

Thanks so much for trying to help me. No, I'm not certain. At first I thought the label was 31, but on closer inspection it seems to be 37. As you can see from the photo, most of the insulation is gone so it's hard to guess the color. That's a cool diagram you've got there. I didn't know they were so large! I'll check things out this morning. I pulled the battery and the connector from the engine compartment side and the wire coming out of the firewall looks fine. I'm sure I'm going to have to chase the wire to wherever it goes, inspect and replace.

Thanks again!

 

Hi,

I spent several hours chasing the burnt wire. It was not a very satisfying result. The wire had melted to other wires in the harness so in order to follow it I had to remove much of the electrical tape under the dash. It got high enough inside the dash that I had to remove the gauge cluster. Once I did, I found that the wire was not connected to anything, just laying there. Now I'm concerned as to where the wire should be going. To confirm what annaleigh suspected, the wire is white with a pink stripe, not a red stripe as I had originally believed.

Here's a pic taken where the instrument cluster would normally be:

Burnt wire - behind instrument cluster
I'm assuming the wire is protected in some way, so I'm surprised it could get this hot without blowing a fuse, though it doesn't go to the fuse block under the dash.

Suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

 

The wire at pin #37 of the round plug is wire #33, a white with a pink stripe.
Also in 1988 the vans did not have the round plug. My guess is you have a 1989 E-series or newer.

#33 wire runs from the Ignition switch to the clutch switch/jumper to the big round connector and then to the Neutral Start Switch if an auto transmission. Wire #33 changes color at a connector to a red wire with a blue stripe #32 on the engine side before it gets to the starter relay.

By the way what engine size do you have and is it a auto or standard shift?

 

Bill,

Thanks for helping me. I thought it was an 88! I decoded the VIN and it does show as an 89. My understanding had been that it was an 88 chassis made into an ambulance in 89 which apparently is not really the case. That's helpful to know. I think you found the information I was looking for - wire #33, round connector pin #37, white w/ pink stripe. It currently doesn't get as far as the igniton switch, however. I need to figure out next steps now. I'll do some testing and presumably find that the starter interlock isn't functioning correctly. Then I need to get it rewired correctly and make sure it's not going to melt again.

Thanks!

 

Bill,

To answer your question, it's a 7.3 Diesel with an automatic trans.

Thanks!

 

C6 or E4OD?
Different wiring diagrams to follow that wire.

If it is an 7.3L with a E4OD it should be wired like this:


/

 

Hi Bill,

Thanks so much for posting that information!

The door tag on my rig indicates
WB: 138
Type-GVW: E302
Body: LK
Trans: E So I presume that means E40D -- but I'm new to these vans.
Axle: E2
Springs: 4X L

According to the document you posted, the white/pink wire that's burned should go from the round firewall connector to somewhere on the ignition switch. I'll have a close look there.

Thank you!

 

Yes the Trans "E" is the E4OD Transmission.
WB: 138 = Wheelbase is 138 inches.
Type-GVW: E302 = E350 Regular Cutaway Van with GVWR of 10,500 lb.
Body: LK = Cloth Captain Chairs, Color Chestnut.
Axle: E2 is for the 7400 # Capacity axle wit a Ratio of 4.10.
Springs: 4X L = Front Spring is a 3,850/4,200 # GAWR Rating, Code E6US-AA and Rear Spring Code is E2TA-5560-ARA.


Springs: 4X L =

 

Ok, so I spent some time chasing the wire in the engine side harness, and found more of the same. That is to say, the wire wasn't connected to anything. I found that someone had replaces the burned wire entirely. It was rather poorly done at one of the connectors with only 1/2" or so of wire to splice to. I repinned the connector with a longer pig tail and spliced it in properly. I then re-wrapped the several feet of harness that I had unwrapped.

Splice location too close to connector. Fell apart as soon as I unwrapped the tape on it.