Connector disconnected and loose stripped wire...

[ep1centre]

Hi all,

I joined a while back but through reading everyone else's posts and information available on the forum i've not yet had to ask a question... until now!

So during another one of my "routine" sessions of rear break light cleaning and replacements (since the car is always complaining they're blown when they're not, why is that??) I found a connector strapped to a wire with some masking tape, this connector is in the left hand side cubby hole where the fuse box is in an 07 vectra estate, it's a two pole connector with two wires going into it, the socket is just there but not connected, what does this do? is it safe to plug back in?

Another thing that has been bugging me since i bought the car is, in the right hand side cubby hole, just poking out from the top there is a white wire, stripped that cubby hole is too tight and i've not managed to pull the lining out enough to be able to trace the wire back and see where it comes from, any ideas what it might be?

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Thanks in advance for your help.

[Matty2Fatty]

I have that same black plug in the bottom of my cubby hole in my estate (no idea what it's for though), someone suggested it was for a towbar, but I'm not convinced as it's tiny. They'll be for an optional extra that's not fitted to your car. You'll probably find another taped up on top of the rear wheel arch behind the passenger side rear bolster on the seat (that's for the TPMS module).

Do you get a "safeguard" message coming up when you start the car? If so the wire in the right hand side might be one off the rear window break sensor. The lining just pulls out of that cubby hole on mine, it's a bit tough as it's bigger than the hole, but grabbing it, squashing it and pulling it out seems to work fine (for me). Else I think it's 2 T20 screws (one by the tailgate opening, one where the back seat folds down) and the top part of the trim then lifts off.

If I get a chance and remember, I'll look in my boot and see if I can find the same white wire.

[ep1centre]

Thanks for the reply, I did see another thread (perhaps yours?) about the connector you're referring to, a rectangular multi pin connector.

This one is a different connector and, if it was just one side i would assume as much: optional extra, the reason that made me investigate further and ask if because i have both plug and socket there which have clearly been deliberately disconnected and taped with some masking tape (not exactly a factory standard feature).

I did used to get the message you're talking about when i bought the car but after some poking around / reading about it i found out that was likely something to do with the rear window heater which curiously didn't work at the time, i found it to be unplugged, plugged it back in and everything worked / message disappeared since.

There's definitely something odd about this car i keep finding things unplugged / not working and it's rather unnerving as i presume there must have been a reason why they were unplugged in the first place...

Are the electrical system's diagrams in Haynes' manuals any good? Alternatively does anyone have any recommendations on where i could get my hands on some sort of workshop manual which would include good quality electrical diagrams for the car?

[Dog_Book]

Masking tape is used all over from the factory so not a rare find in these

[nikroc]

During the production various looms were used that had all sorts of connections ..some were used others not. At the least it gives you the option of adding in various mod's that werent available/in spec when the car left the factory

[soulman]

Probably @plasma would be the person to know about LOOMS as he makes and sends them off to members .

[ep1centre]

ok... i take your points but it doesn't look like this is meant to add anything, both parts of the connector are there, plug and socket - they're just disconnected!

Also i'm happy to be corrected but i can't see an automotive manufacturer making "all sorts of looms" and just banging them in the next car long in the production line, i understand that there are many connectors all over the car which are unplugged as they're for optional parts not fitted to my version of vectra but i can't see a reason for a matching plug and socket to be next to one another but left disconnected.

Again, if I had not found other bits of interesting previous work on the car i would just take it as "that's how it is" and leave it but since i bought the car i've repaired many a questionable bodge from previous owners / garages.

I can also see where the general advice is going to lead this one "just connect it and see what it does", it has crossed my mind, just wanted to do the right thing and find out what it actually does first

[Dog_Book]

What the socket then as you've not showed us that yet.

[ep1centre]

The first picture is the socket, the second is the plug.

[Dog_Book]

They both look like plugs to me and I’ve found the same in my estates before.