So I've looked through my Ford shop manual and a Mitchell wiring schematic for 1976-77 Maverick Comet but can't identify these two wires (I got my cars without engines so there's lots of unmarked wires); It is nowhere to be found on my '71 harness so I assume it's something to do with the later style ignition (distributor maybe?) The wires are heavier gauge than most of the other engine bay wires. First wire (photos 1-3) connects to main loom near the DS shock tower (photo 2) via a plug and has similar plug on its end. It has 3 wires, purple, black and orangey-yellow. The purple and black wires look like they have small dashes of blue - I may have overcleaned them. I assume it's something to do with the electronic ignition but I have the module plugs-ins marked separately so not sure where this one goes. Final one (last photo) looks very familiar but for the life of me can't find it listed or identified. For some reason I think it goes to the distributor but I no longer have that style dist. It has a "clip style' fastener on the end and the wire is yellowish brown. Hopefully someone with a later Mav-Com can identify
The one with the clip goes to the brake fluid reservoir. I think it is a sensor telling you when your fluid is low. Not sure, I don't have the reservoir anymore. My gut feeling on the other plug is windshield washer reservoir?
The first connector should be going to the Duraspark ignition module. It connects the module to the reluctor in the distributor. Not sure on the second, trace it back and see where it goes.
Ok, sounds like maybe the brown wire one is answered I already have the two plugs labelled that go into the Duraspark module so I'm guessing what Jamie meant is the first plug in the photo is the one that runs to the distributor. A quick google image search for "durspark distrubutor" shows a number of photos with that style plug and the wire colours match so it looks like that's it. Now for the next problem: I have an old style distributor with an updated Pertronix ignitor but obviously not a matching plug for the one in the photo, and the Duraspark module I have was sitting in the car in a barn for 25 years so I'm guessing it's junk. So...is it best to toss the old module, eliminate most of the Durspark wires and just connect to the old style distributor? Or should I try to 'modernize' the module by getting some type of newer style replacement? Or can you actually still by buy modules? Thoughts?
You can still get Modules, Scooper was correct the 4th pic plug goes to the brake distribution block switch. Who needs a light to tell them when they have no brakes?
If you have a Pertronix, you don't need any of the duraspark stuff. Just run a switched 12v wire to the coil and hook the pertronix up.
The light tells you that your running low on brake fluid so that you know that you need to add more fluid before you have no brakes or get air into the system
I think it is to let you know your pads are worn to the point the wheel cyls. are extended...that's where your brake fluid went. when you push the cyls. back for the new pads the M/C fills itself back up...
No Mavericks ever had a fluid level sensor. They did have a sensor on the proportioning valve that told you when you lost fluid pressure in either the front or back brakes causing a pressure differential in the brake system. That harness has one small wire to it and is a pin type connector. The second wire looks like the electric choke wire.
I have already ID'd the Prop valve clip (purple and white wire, pin connector) so I was wondering why there would be two different connectors (that one and the brown one) and once you suggested electric choke, a bulb went off, as I seem to recall that's what it was (I got it without the motor). Thanks
the proportioning valve tells you when the pressure is different between the front brakes and the rear brakes. like when you have a wheel cylinder or caliper seal leak or if you break a line going to any part of the system you may not run out of fluid but it tells you that part of the system isn't working as well as the other hydro wise. oh second wire my moneys on the choke. first is for ignition but just use the aftermarket system and get rid of the harness
"The brake system is divided into two sub-systems to increase safety. A pressure differential switch, connected to the warning light, is positioned between the two. If a major leak occurs, and therefore pressure in one of the lines is sharply reduced, pressure from the other side forces a piston to move, activating the pressure differential switch and turns on the dashboard warning light." it's a...pressure difference between the front/rear bowls switch... kinda like an...A/C binary switch...reads too high or low pressure in the system.
