I hate that my first post has to be a help post and written on my phone but I need your help.

I have a 2002 R53 manual transmission. I pulled to motor to fix a few things and almost have it wrapped up ... All but one connector. I haven't been able to find where this connector goes. Please see picture below.






The wire is circled in yellow. Under the sheath it is a red wire about 8 Gage

I have the wire on the starter, positive battery box, as well as the fuse box. Does the starter have two red wires that connect to it?

Any help would be great. Thanks for all the info on this site.

Cheers

Cdub

 

That appears to be the ground strap for the exterior fuse box. I don't see the box and assume you removed. The strap bolts in the back rear left corner of the box.

 

That's what I thought too but there is already a wire there. The wire I circled is red and I was always told red is power. On the starter is there two red wires on the 13mm lug?

 

Really no one that has pulled their motor remembers where this goes? I asked my dealer and one of the techs was stumped as well. I think it may be because it was not in their shop or they weren't getting paid.

Any ideas on where to look?

 

I looked at my '02 Cooper S & I can't see that cable under all the other stuff.
What does the other end connect to?

 

It connects into the Octopus as some people call once it enters that I'm not sure where it goes. Im off work now and will see if i can trace down where it connects to.

 

So after ohming it out the other end of the wire connects to the alt. So If that is the case where does this end connect to?

 

The Haynes manual p12-30 Starting & Charging shows a red wire from the alternator direct to the battery.
There are 3 red connections to the battery + terminal:
1 Alternator
2 Starter
3 to the F100 250A fuse in the trunk & from there to the engine fusebox FL7 50A

Watch for sparks & smoke!

 

Here is a picture of the bottom of the fuse box, not the best but may help. I am putting mine in front service mode today. Will do some checking when I am searching for vacuum leaks. Will be back with you later this afternoon.

 

That is a ground strap that bolts down to the frame. It is under the exterior fuse box, back right side. It appears to be routed under a big black fuzzy bundle of wires going to the fuse box. You can also find the nut/stud if you trace the red lead that goes from the fuse box back toward the outside fender and then into the fire wall.

Sorry I don't have a modern phone with a camera, yes I am an anachronism.

 

I put it on the bat+ terminal. Thanks for the help. Applied power and no smoke so far.

Started it up it reved up to 2k then died off to 500 then back up to 2k then sputtered down and I shut it off. I don't have the clamps on the ic. Or the air box hooked up but what could be causing this. I don't have a code reader sadly

 

No smoke is good.
You're nearly there. Vacuum lines & sensors all hooked up OK?

 

I was looking at this and I cannot see the location of that, I know the strap going to the box is off the main cable and red.

r53coop - and pics yet?

 

There was a time when I had just about every form or communication, computers and mini phone/computers but that time has passed. If my son stops by when I have the car apart will take a picture.

You need to take out the air box so that you can then unbolt the fuse box and turn it over. Once the fuse box is moved to the left you will see the black ground strap attached to the frame.