My car through a P0597 code this morning. While I was looking under the hood I noticed this bit of wire harness just hanging out not plugged into anything. I've looked around and cannot find what it's supposed to plug into. My car is a stock 2010 Cooper S with a manual transmission. I recently had my flywheel and clutch replaced and this is the first time I've really looked under the hood since then. I'm hoping this is part of the thermostat sensor so I don't have to replace the thermostat.

 

It looks to be your MAF sensor.

 

Thanks for the reply, but it's not the MAF sensor. Mine is plugged into the harness. The connector in my picture is only two wires. The wires are black and orange (or faded from red), and they only stick out six or seven inches from the harness. Since the pigtail is so short I'm thinking more harness should plug into it instead of the endpoint for a sensor, but I can't find anything to mate to it.

 

Your t'stat housing has two connectors --- the temp sensor (on top) and a heater (low and in back). P0597 = "Thermostat Heater Control Circuit / Open" --- good possibility thats where your connector goes. PITA to get at --- good luck.

 

My '14 S looks just like that except the loose wire goes under that cover instead of laying on top of it.

 

It connects to a pigtail coming from under that black box on mine. Hard to see because of the washer reservoir.