So I'm in the final stages of reassembling my '02 mini cooper engine after getting some valves replaced. I have a dangling wire, coming out of the harness next to the coolant filler. I'm stumped as to where it plugs in. It's a relatively short wire.

The connector has an identical clip/receiver piece to the one above the right end of the fuel rail. I'm referring to the long plastic case that plugs into the fuel injectors - there's a wiring harness receiver at the end closest to the oil filler. It a metal clip on one side that slides sideways to lock the wire into place.

Wish I had a picture but I'm not near the car right now... I'll try to post one tomorrow. Anyone have an idea of what this wire should attach to, based on my awkward description?

 

Coil...complete guess on my part.

 

Not the coil wire... I have that one handy & ready to plug in once the valve cover's back on.

 

you lost me at coolant filter.....
edit!!
aw...filler..just re-read it!! LOL

 

Haha yah... Filler

 

Ok so it's almost midnight but I couldn't stop thinking about this wire!! So I drove back to the garage where I'm doin the work. Here are some pics. Thoughts??

 

Is there anything in the R53 engine that this could be used for, that is not used in the R50? Still can't figure out where this plug might go on my R50.

 

Did you have your battery box out while you were working on the vehicle? If so id take it back out and look at your reverse light switch.

 

It does look like an injector connector and the wires are actually the correct color! The fuel injectors connectors on the S are exactly like this.

 

+1

There were only a few wires I found that have the metal snap on clips to hold in place and I do think that looks like an injector one !!

 

Looks like the knock sensor connector

 

+2

Pretty sure that's a standard EV1/Bosch pigtail.

http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/i...ggy-ev1_lg.jpg

 

+2

It wouldn't let me post a link because I am new, but that is a Bosch/EV1 injector pigtail. I'm 99% sure.

EDIT: just specifying this is the type of connector, I believe rkde is correct though that this is for the knock sensor

 

I will tell you all it is the knock sensor plug... Its the same plug as the injectors except the injectors only have 2" of wire on them.

The knock sensor is on the front of the block just under the head, the wire will be down the front or on the right by the throttle body.

 

I should have clarified. I assume OP had all of the injector connections already, I was just specifying the type of connector. I edited my post for clarity.

I am pretty new to minis but several cars use this for temperature sensors.

I didn't know that the knock sensor used this connector, but after a bit of research, I think you are 100% correct, as the location matches up perfectly.

 

No worries, I have had the misfortune of building several minis... The plug us used in quite a few places over the car.

Should help the op though, I know what its like to be stood there holding a plug not knowing where it goes

 

Thank you! Yes I already had the injector plug all set, and it is the same type of plug as that one. Only difference is that the metal clip is on the injector housing on that one. The metal clip is on the dangling plug on the mystery wire.

Looks like I have some disassembly to do... Again. :-/ am I correct in thinking I should take the intake manifold off to get the knock sensor wire in? Is it just behind the intake?

 

It is behind the manifold but you should be able to get to the plug without removing the manifold. The wire of the knock sensor is also quite long, about 5"

 

So I'm back in the garage after a busy weekend... getting close to trying to start the car. Still haven't completely figured out the issue. I haven't reached the point where I'm ready to start the car yet. It looks like I was plugging the knock sensor wire into the injector socket on the far right of the fuel injector plug box. (no clue what it's actually called...) So, my next question is this: Where the heck is the wire that plugs into the fuel injector fuel rail pluggy thing? It's the same plug type as the knock sensor, but I can only find one wire that matches both of these sockets.

 

 

the knock sensor comes from under the intake and plugs into the connection at the rt front plastic housing that contains the connectors for the injectors. Like I said before from your pics this connection appears to be coming out of the loom at the thermostat. There is a switch right under your battery box that uses that same style connector. Its usually zip tied to the top mounted style clutch slave cylinders. I could be wrong but it would be worth a look at this point.

 

Just took the battery tray back out... Couldn't find anything that would match the plug. Here's a head on shot of that area under where the tray sits.






Not that it would necessarily effect this issue, but just a note... this car was upgraded to a 6-speed transmission by the previous owner.

Thanks for all your help guys. After pulling/installing the cylinder head, and all the other parts that go into such a project, I'm sure you can imagine how frustrating it is to have an unidentified dangling wire. All I want to do is put the valve cover on and start the car... :-/

 

AHA! I think I just put it all together.

If anyone has been following the threads in R50/53 hatchtalk recently, I also have a post on there searching for my backup switch wire. I've been looking high and low.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...sing-wire.html

I think my problems are intertwined.

My car (which I just bought last month) was upgraded to a 6-speed transmission. It seems that whoever replaced the transmission in the car didn't plug in the the backup light switch cable... because they COULDN'T!

The R50 switch cable plug looks like the plug for the knock sensor - black rectangle with two flat metal contacts.

The R53 switch looks like the plug for the fog lights - white and oval shaped

Does this sound like the right idea? Maybe I didn't notice, but the wire was dangling free before I unplugged everything. Could it be that it is indeed the backup light plug, but for the original transmission?!

 

Glad ya found it. With your year vehicle the original trans had a top mounted clutch slave and the switch was right next to it. The six speed has the switch further down on the back side of the trans.

 

And your definitely in much better shape having a 6-speed transplant