Help identifying cut wires

[rewilfert]

My '76 has a non original engine that was installed by a previous owner.  It was also stripped of any emissions related equipment.  There are several disconnected plugs and cut wires under the hood that I'm trying to identify locations for.

 

First up is a pair of brown wires that have been cut. They are bundled with 2 other wires that go to a sensor located in the brake distribution manifold next to the master cylinder. Any idea what these may have originally connected to?

 

I have yet to find a wiring diagram that matches the car which is making identifying these wires and connectors difficult.

 

Untitled by rewilfert, on Flickr

[Guest_anonymous]

A '76. You will need a '76 specific wiring chart. Brown is an earth wire (ground wire)

[halboyles]

Those likely went to the brake fluid reservoir's level sensor.  See numbers 23 and 114 in the diagram.

76 2002 Color Diagram.pdf

[rewilfert]

The brake fluid level sensor wires are still intact. 

 

Yes, brown is ground. It makes me think they went to some sort of switch, possibly related to emissions components. 

[Buckeye]

I am thinking those wires go to Brake Pressure Switch, which is located underneath MC. Can you located Brake Pressure Switch? Part No. 61311360940 (item #2)

 

[halboyles]

34 minutes ago, Buckeye said:

I am thinking those wires go to Brake Pressure Switch,

 

 

That is what is a little confusing.  The OP's pic shows the pressure switch against the inner fender to the left of the MC and there are two wires running to it.  The color of those wires appears to "Grime."  They are in the same sheath as the two brown wires so it seemed likely to me that the brown wires were part of the level sensor's mechanism.

[Mike Self]

Dunno if this helps, but invariably brown (OEM) wires on a 2002 are ground wires.  And the 76s were the only year that had that "brake pressure bias switch" near the master cylinder.  

 

One of those brown wires may go to the pressure switch, and the other to the ground side of the brake fluid reservoir float switch.  Remember that on a '76, that red brake light on the dash has three purposes:  low brake fluid, e-brake on or uneven pressure between the two brake systems.

 

mike

[halboyles]

3 minutes ago, mike said:

Remember that on a '76, that red brake light on the dash has three purposes:  low brake fluid, e-brake on or uneven pressure between the two brake systems.

 

Excellent point.  You might check to see if the brake fluid/e-brake/pressure light works for at least the fluid level and the e-brake.

[Rozz]

My '76 has two spade terminals on the brake pressure switch, the brown wires both go to the other side.

[rewilfert]

9 hours ago, Rozz said:

My '76 has two spade terminals on the brake pressure switch, the brown wires both go to the other side.

 

Thank you!  That is what I was thinking after I found another picture showing the 2 brown wires with a female spade connector attached.  I looked tonight and noticed the switch has 2 male terminals on it and 1 isn't connected to anything.

 

I haven't been able to put electrical power on the car since I bought it (wiring is a bit of a hacked up mess).  I also noticed that the parking brake switch was disconnected.  Maybe the dash light was stuck on and the previous owner just started disconnecting everything in an attempt to extinguish it.

 

[Simeon]

4 hours ago, rewilfert said:

Maybe the dash light was stuck on because the brakes had failed and the previous owner just started disconnecting everything in an attempt to extinguish it.

 

Fixed that for you. 

[Stevenc22]

Most '76 cars have that entire brake Bias distribution block removed and the brake lines plumbed directly to the master cylinder. If you redo the brakes, just plumb directly to the master.

[rewilfert]

On ‎7‎/‎27‎/‎2018 at 2:18 AM, Simeon said:

 

Fixed that for you. 

Thank you!