Hey I was looking underneath my car today and I noticed a wire was disconnected. I was wondering if anyone can tell me if its important or if I should just leave it alone.

 

It's just a ground wire. You don't need it.

 

Damn that's rusty! I would reattach it...Nissan put it there for a reason.... Get a larger bonding strap!

 

Like they put that crimp in the pipe?

 

I did a little looking and found a few possibilities.

1.) "It is there to eliminate corrosion that is caused by the build up of electrons through electrolysis and electricity flow through the engine. Same reasons engines have chassis grounds on them. Notice how people are saying they had to have there exhaust replaced because the exhaust rusted thorugh and found this wire broken?" ~ From G35driver.com

2.) "The exhaust is isolated by rubber mounts from the rest of the car
The air moving through the exhaust can generate minor static charge in the exhaust pipe. The ground strap dissipates the potential between the two."

Now, I don't know what it actually is, but if its a ground, its better to have it connected than not.

 

It's going to rust out, regardless.

 

thats not that rusty. when i put on my catback, i couldnt even get a vice grips to hold on to the nuts on the cat haha they just disintegrated.

hopefully when i gut the precats it will go more smoothly.

 

nissan tech talk @big 3

 

I know it's a joke, but sometimes I wonder if these guys are being serious. lol

3.) "The hood is grounded so it won't fly open during high speed when electric static
builds from the air speed going over it."

 

I reconnect mine using this
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...mString=search

Do not touch the existing nut, you might get a leak on the catalytic converter. I spray WD40 on the tip of the bolt to remove the rust and screw a new nut on the bolt to tighten the new ground strap.

This ground strap is additional ground for oxygen sensor. Actually there is another one near the engine. Its the same principle of having this
http://forums.maxima.org/audio-elect...other-how.html

 

Not to change the subject with your disintegrating nuts....But even here in Houston the OEM exhaust system hardware was well on it's way to look like that and be problematic! I would recommend that anytime you upgrade your system to new Performance parts or aftermarket replacment parts you swap out all the hardware to Stainless steel....My Catback hardware is well over 10 yrs old and never ever rusted......

 

Well I might as well just reconnect it... Do you happen to know what size nut you used?