2.3L ('83-'97) 1996 4.3 electrical question

[conn110]

I found this loose wire and an empty connector near the coolant and windshield washer. Does anyone know what this is to?

 

[lowspeedpursuit]

That connector is for hood antitheft.

That wire could be anything. Does it go to that connector? Black is ground.

 

[conn110]

Both wires are black. They were marked S- and S+ with handwritten paper tags if that means anything and are just long enough to reach that connector. It does run above the radiator and toward the hood latch. But, as far as I can tell, it exits on the drivers side, follows the fender and meets the main wire bundle into the cab. So I suppose the wires might connect in the area of the hood latch and what I see on the drivers side is something else. I'll get a closer look. Now that I know that connector is for the hood anti theft, I'm less concerned. Thanks for the answer about the connector.

 

[scotts90ranger]

There probably used to be an aftermarket alarm or something, or a PA speaker or siren (would explain the S on the tag). Those loose wires with tinned ends aren't factory.