Missing/removed secondary intake (?) under batter

[RustyTrustbucket]

I brought home a used 1988 Ranger custom with 70XXX miles.

It's missing some piping under the battery. The fella I bought it from said it was part of an emissions system. Should I replace it? What is it? Could it be causing my wandering idle?

See attachments.

 

[adsm08]

That's the pre-heater piping. It gets warm air to the engine on cold starts so she heats up faster (kind of a joke with the 2.3 anyway).

A wandering idle is usually a problem with the IAC.

 

[RustyTrustbucket]

Thanks for fast reply.

Looks like the hose is cheap. Where do I route it to repair it?

Is there any perfermance detriment to leaving it off? Does it clown on my MAF or anything?

 

[adsm08]

It is supposed to attach to the heat shield around the exhaust manifold, which it looks like you don't have.

I'm not really sure what "clowning on the MAF sensor means" but if you can go find me a MAF sensor somewhere on that truck then you tried too hard.

 

[RustyTrustbucket]

Haha alright. Thank you.