Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

What’s this capacitor looking thing plugged into my fuse block?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-28-2022, 05:59 PM
  #1  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
battmann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Rochester NY
Posts: 1,110
Received 416 Likes on 266 Posts
Car: 1984 TA (1 stock / 1 custom)
Engine: LG4 / turbo LQ4
Transmission: 700R4 / 4L80E
Axle/Gears: Stock / 4:11 Moser 9"
What’s this capacitor looking thing plugged into my fuse block?

Working on dash wiring for my LS swap. Found this capacitor looking thing plugged into the back of my fuse block. Anyone know what this is for? Is it needed? It’s plugged into the back of one of the IGN spaces.


Old 05-28-2022, 06:51 PM
  #2  
Supreme Member

 
vorteciroc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 212 is up in this Bit@#
Posts: 2,763
Received 739 Likes on 565 Posts
Car: Resto-Mod 1987 IROC-Z Clone
Engine: Alky fed L92 Vortec Twin-Turbo 6.8L
Transmission: My own built/ design 4L80M
Axle/Gears: Custom 12 bolt (4.10:1)
Re: What’s this capacitor looking thing plugged into my fuse block?

RFI Noise Filter
Old 05-28-2022, 11:49 PM
  #3  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (9)
 
84 1LE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oyth
Posts: 6,206
Received 322 Likes on 264 Posts
Car: 89RS vert
Engine: Erod
Transmission: 4L65e
Axle/Gears: BW, 3.27
Re: What’s this capacitor looking thing plugged into my fuse block?

Strange place to put it. Does'nt seem to go anything.
Old 05-29-2022, 05:35 AM
  #4  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
battmann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Rochester NY
Posts: 1,110
Received 416 Likes on 266 Posts
Car: 1984 TA (1 stock / 1 custom)
Engine: LG4 / turbo LQ4
Transmission: 700R4 / 4L80E
Axle/Gears: Stock / 4:11 Moser 9"
Re: What’s this capacitor looking thing plugged into my fuse block?

Should I keep this or remove it? There’s a tab with a hole on it which looks like it should be mounted somewhere with a screw? Does this get attached to the dash housing?
Old 05-29-2022, 06:36 AM
  #5  
Supreme Member

 
ironwill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,034
Received 420 Likes on 301 Posts
Car: 1986 IROC Z
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Posi
Re: What’s this capacitor looking thing plugged into my fuse block?

Originally Posted by battmann
Should I keep this or remove it? There’s a tab with a hole on it which looks like it should be mounted somewhere with a screw? Does this get attached to the dash housing?
It was probably intended to be attached to ground, and since it wasn't grounded, couldn't do anything, so you can likely remove it. Out of curiosity though, which circuit was it connected to?



Old 05-29-2022, 09:16 AM
  #6  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (1)
 
sofakingdom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 26,123
Received 1,688 Likes on 1,283 Posts
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: What’s this capacitor looking thing plugged into my fuse block?

Looks like it's plugged into the pink/black (fused switched ignition) circuit. Not sure why the factory would have thought that one needed filtering, after all it mostly goes to things like solenoids and such, but w/e. They no doubt had their reasons. I'd leave it and find a place to screw the tab to ground.
Old 05-29-2022, 06:47 PM
  #7  
Supreme Member

 
vorteciroc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 212 is up in this Bit@#
Posts: 2,763
Received 739 Likes on 565 Posts
Car: Resto-Mod 1987 IROC-Z Clone
Engine: Alky fed L92 Vortec Twin-Turbo 6.8L
Transmission: My own built/ design 4L80M
Axle/Gears: Custom 12 bolt (4.10:1)
Re: What’s this capacitor looking thing plugged into my fuse block?

I did not work for GM during 3rd-Gen Years, so I do not know for certain...
I also do not like to make assumptions.

Engineering information from that time, indicates that:
Noise Suppression Devices (unspecified) would be installed into Cars with problematic RFI issues, when New Vehicle Owners would indicate such concerns for a 2nd time.
The 1st time being the replacement of the Ignition Wire Set, and inspection/ replacement of Spark-Plugs that are found to be cracked, while in Service
(meaning a Dealer Service Department).
Old 05-30-2022, 08:28 AM
  #8  
Supreme Member

 
tom3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: So. Ohio
Posts: 2,271
Received 85 Likes on 78 Posts
Car: 88 Camaro
Engine: L98 350
Transmission: 700r4
Re: What’s this capacitor looking thing plugged into my fuse block?

Might be a noise suppressor for alternator whine.
Old 05-31-2022, 06:51 AM
  #9  
Moderator

iTrader: (1)
 
RBob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Chasing Electrons
Posts: 18,406
Likes: 0
Received 216 Likes on 202 Posts
Car: check
Engine: check
Transmission: check
Re: What’s this capacitor looking thing plugged into my fuse block?

The ground/mounting tab is usually under one of the fuse block mounting screws. Can see it in this picture, but also, this isn't of a 3rd gen car. So it may look at bit different, but is representative of how it gets mounted.

And yes, it is a capacitor to help control electrical noise for the radio.

RBob.


Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
skinny z
Electronics
2
10-05-2017 11:50 AM
mikehess13
Electronics
2
08-15-2010 10:47 PM
fermium257
Electronics
11
05-26-2010 12:36 PM
Smellofrubber
Electronics
1
12-30-2006 06:42 PM
citgofan99
Electronics
2
01-09-2002 08:26 PM



Quick Reply: What’s this capacitor looking thing plugged into my fuse block?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:04 PM.