Should this wire be cut??

All,

I have an 89 328 US car, I was cleaning the trunk of the car and came upon this wire being cut, it originates from the harness and proceeds to be connected to the ground of the car. Any help is appreciated. This wire is from the Magnetti Marelli. Thanks...
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I believe that's the ground wire to the engine timing ECU. If you connect the wire you will get one set of timing maps for the U.S. market and if you disconnect it you will get a different set of maps. I may have this bass-ackwards but you get the idea. Also, it may not affect all maps. Not sure. Anyway, I think with the Euro maps you will get a bit more timing advance which will result in a bit more power. If you need to get the car smog checked I would put the wire it its normal (U.S.) configuration as it might reduce emmisions slightly and then you can what you want after it passes.

I suppose you could check idle timing and rpm on the warmed-up engine. Shut it off. Connect the wires to each other and start the engine again to see if anything changed. Basic timing may change or maybe something at higher rpms. I simply don't know.

 

Thanks for the insight, it appears the unit has also been modified due to the modification done to the heads and the different camshafts that the engine has.

 

I have not yet included 328 diags in my wiring package but do have the scans (fall project?). The ignition module shows blue wires only to position sensor and diagnostic plug. Primary ground is black (N) to pin 11. But there is a wire from ignition pin 19 to the throttle micro switch to ground. Check to see if that isn't what you are asking about but that shows as brown w/white stripe. I can send the scan if you feel it will help.




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308 Wiring Diagrams
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Hi Paul,

This wire is purple and from what I can see it's coming from the harness and meets up with the primary ground. I would ask you too but I am clueless when it comes to wiring diagrams.

 

This doesn't speak directly to you problem but might help you to figure it out elsewise. These are the Italian wire color abbreviation/translation:

A Light Blue B White C Orange G Yellow H Grey L Blue
M Brown N Black P Beige R Red S Pink V Green
Z Violet AB = Light Blue w White stripe etc

If perhaps your purple is Ferrari's violet, I find NO 'Z' wires on the ignition circuit. The main module plug has 2 Yellows, 3 blacks, 4 green, 1 each brown/black, brown/white, yellow/black, yellow/green, yellow/red.

The Injection circuitry does use violet/black and violet/white wires but I don't see any violet without stripes. Ferrari tends to color group by function so violet is a good bet for injection stuff.

Hold the phone...just found another ignition drawing with a violet/black from ground to pin 17 of the MM module. But don't see how it can work without it connected permanently. FYI, the module plug numbering, bottom row left is 1 going to 13 at right. Top row left is 14 going to 25 on right. Check out what is on pin 17 which would be the 4th wire top row from left. Should be violet/black.
(this is in the 328 1989 Wiring Diagram 34 page pdf - a really poor scan)

Just looked more closely at your picture...it does have a black stripe. (stipes are important)...so my bet's on pin 17 for now.

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