How to work vacuum and electrical connectors

philn · 11-01-2009, 10:38 PM

Hi all

Just joined - first post. Thanks to this forum I was able to accurately diagnose a dropped valve seat in my focus but I have a question. Can anyone describe how to work the various 'trick' fittings on my engine? I'm still a little old school - screw clamps on everything. I managed to disconnect one end of the fuel line with a cheap plastic tool from a local tool shop but the other end wouldn't give, and it seems as if every wiring plug/socket has a different connector. In particular I couldn't figure out how to unplug the big fat vacuum hose at the bottom of the intake manifold - eventually I just yanked on it and the hose came out but the rest of it stayed in the manifold. Now I don't know if just stuffing it back in will give me a proper seal when I re-install the head.

I've tried the how-to's, searching the forum and googling the net but got nothing relevant. Can anybody help me out?

Thanks.

***whynotthinkwhynot*** · 11-02-2009, 06:37 AM

So I'm assuming you have an SPI? Or is it a DOHC engine?

For fuel line clips, you'll notice on the ends that there is a white part on the plastic connector. All you have to do is press on that white rectangle pushing the clip further down, and pull out at the same time. Most people mess these up by thinking that it works like the old Ford EFI fuel line clips that you removed to release. Fortunately, the last time I bought a Wix filter the new style clips were included along with the older style.

As far as the vacuum hose goes, I have no idea, it might just simply screw out of there. Once you have the intake manifold off the vehicle, you'll likely figure it out. This stuff is really not all that difficult if you know what to do. I couldn't tell you without a picture.

Most of the newer electrical clips are what's called a 2 step clip. There will be a brightly colored plastic retainer, then the clip itself. The retainers slide, and then you can press the clip with your thumb and remove it easily. These clips are so much better than the older ones that you just pulled really hard on. You should basically use very little effort to remove anything so long as you do it correctly. If you're struggling, stop, go somewhere else, do something else, and come back to it. You're doing something wrong.

canadianfoci · 11-02-2009, 08:21 AM

"If you're struggling, stop, go somewhere else, do something else, and come back to it. You're doing something wrong."

lol God knows I have broken crap that had no need to be broken due to fustration and anger, That was some damn fine advice *whynotthinkwhynot*

alex62390 · 11-02-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whynotthinkwhynot

If you're struggling, stop, go somewhere else, do something else, and come back to it. You're doing something wrong.

great advise for anybody

philn · 11-02-2009, 10:52 PM

It's an SPI. The vacuum connector is at the base of the throttle body. It's a large black plastic ring with what seems like a locking collar around it that slides in and out a bit. The vacuum line that goes into it is black plastic and I think it goes to the brake booster. I took pictures but my account here won't let me create an album to upload them to (or I'm doing something wrong there).

***whynotthinkwhynot*** · 11-02-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philn

It's an SPI. The vacuum connector is at the base of the throttle body. It's a large black plastic ring with what seems like a locking collar around it that slides in and out a bit. The vacuum line that goes into it is black plastic and I think it goes to the brake booster. I took pictures but my account here won't let me create an album to upload them to (or I'm doing something wrong there).

Go to Photobucket.com, make a profile, upload pics, then copy the IMG tag of the pic and post it to your message.

philn · 11-02-2009, 11:43 PM

This is the image of the connector

and this is the hose

Thanks

***whynotthinkwhynot*** · 11-03-2009, 08:43 AM

You did it right, that hose looks like it just pulls out, and then you will just push it back in. A little oil around the top outside of the hole will help it slide in.

philn · 11-03-2009, 09:55 PM

Thanks again - I'll be attempting the resurrection on the weekend so I'll be back with the results later.

philn · 11-08-2009, 09:55 PM

So it's back together and running OK but I have another problem. I have a left over bracket. I've looked all through the Haynes manual and all over Google images but haven't seen it anywhere. Does anyone recognize this?

Thanks again.

***whynotthinkwhynot*** · 11-08-2009, 10:59 PM

No clue, maybe someone can help you- this is why I put my bolts back in the block and partially re-assemble brackets that bolt to brackets, or have bolts too long to have sticking out of the block. It might seem like it takes more time to do things that way, but I don't spend long putting it back together scratching my head to try to remember what bolt goes where. It also prevents me from putting long bolts in places where I should have shorter bolts- or the reverse situation. In some cases, I've taped bolts to brackets to keep them together, it just depends on how it comes apart.

It looks to me like it went behind something that had a long bolt, check to see how your serpentine belt lines up- if it's tilting slightly, then that should've gone behind something- my guess (without knowing the engine) would be that it goes in with the alternator.

11-01-2009, 10:38 PM	#1
philn Focus Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 FF Member#: 70145 Location: Abbotsford, BC What I Drive: 2001 Blue SE Posts: 7 FF Reputation: 1 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (0)	How to work vacuum and electrical connectors Hi all Just joined - first post. Thanks to this forum I was able to accurately diagnose a dropped valve seat in my focus but I have a question. Can anyone describe how to work the various 'trick' fittings on my engine? I'm still a little old school - screw clamps on everything. I managed to disconnect one end of the fuel line with a cheap plastic tool from a local tool shop but the other end wouldn't give, and it seems as if every wiring plug/socket has a different connector. In particular I couldn't figure out how to unplug the big fat vacuum hose at the bottom of the intake manifold - eventually I just yanked on it and the hose came out but the rest of it stayed in the manifold. Now I don't know if just stuffing it back in will give me a proper seal when I re-install the head. I've tried the how-to's, searching the forum and googling the net but got nothing relevant. Can anybody help me out? Thanks.

11-02-2009, 06:37 AM	#2
*whynotthinkwhynot* Captain TMI Join Date: Jan 2005 FF Member#: 18416 Location: Memphis TN, USA What I Drive: 05 ZXW; 2002 Land Yacht (Windstar) Posts: 8,120 FF Reputation: 187 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (0)	So I'm assuming you have an SPI? Or is it a DOHC engine? For fuel line clips, you'll notice on the ends that there is a white part on the plastic connector. All you have to do is press on that white rectangle pushing the clip further down, and pull out at the same time. Most people mess these up by thinking that it works like the old Ford EFI fuel line clips that you removed to release. Fortunately, the last time I bought a Wix filter the new style clips were included along with the older style. As far as the vacuum hose goes, I have no idea, it might just simply screw out of there. Once you have the intake manifold off the vehicle, you'll likely figure it out. This stuff is really not all that difficult if you know what to do. I couldn't tell you without a picture. Most of the newer electrical clips are what's called a 2 step clip. There will be a brightly colored plastic retainer, then the clip itself. The retainers slide, and then you can press the clip with your thumb and remove it easily. These clips are so much better than the older ones that you just pulled really hard on. You should basically use very little effort to remove anything so long as you do it correctly. If you're struggling, stop, go somewhere else, do something else, and come back to it. You're doing something wrong. __________________ ---The Complete How-To Archive-- Moderating Tech Chat and Duratec Chat, let me know if I can help.

11-03-2009, 08:43 AM	#8
*whynotthinkwhynot* Captain TMI Join Date: Jan 2005 FF Member#: 18416 Location: Memphis TN, USA What I Drive: 05 ZXW; 2002 Land Yacht (Windstar) Posts: 8,120 FF Reputation: 187 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (0)	You did it right, that hose looks like it just pulls out, and then you will just push it back in. A little oil around the top outside of the hole will help it slide in. __________________ ---The Complete How-To Archive-- Moderating Tech Chat and Duratec Chat, let me know if I can help.

11-08-2009, 10:59 PM	#11
*whynotthinkwhynot* Captain TMI Join Date: Jan 2005 FF Member#: 18416 Location: Memphis TN, USA What I Drive: 05 ZXW; 2002 Land Yacht (Windstar) Posts: 8,120 FF Reputation: 187 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (0)	No clue, maybe someone can help you- this is why I put my bolts back in the block and partially re-assemble brackets that bolt to brackets, or have bolts too long to have sticking out of the block. It might seem like it takes more time to do things that way, but I don't spend long putting it back together scratching my head to try to remember what bolt goes where. It also prevents me from putting long bolts in places where I should have shorter bolts- or the reverse situation. In some cases, I've taped bolts to brackets to keep them together, it just depends on how it comes apart. It looks to me like it went behind something that had a long bolt, check to see how your serpentine belt lines up- if it's tilting slightly, then that should've gone behind something- my guess (without knowing the engine) would be that it goes in with the alternator. __________________ ---The Complete How-To Archive-- Moderating Tech Chat and Duratec Chat, let me know if I can help.

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11-02-2009, 08:21 AM	#3
canadianfoci Focus Jr. Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2009 FF Member#: 69688 Location: Edson, AB, Canada What I Drive: 2003 Red ZX5 Posts: 36 FF Reputation: 1 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (0)	"If you're struggling, stop, go somewhere else, do something else, and come back to it. You're doing something wrong." lol God knows I have broken crap that had no need to be broken due to fustration and anger, That was some damn fine advice whynotthinkwhynot

11-02-2009, 10:52 PM	#5
philn Focus Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 FF Member#: 70145 Location: Abbotsford, BC What I Drive: 2001 Blue SE Posts: 7 FF Reputation: 1 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (0)	It's an SPI. The vacuum connector is at the base of the throttle body. It's a large black plastic ring with what seems like a locking collar around it that slides in and out a bit. The vacuum line that goes into it is black plastic and I think it goes to the brake booster. I took pictures but my account here won't let me create an album to upload them to (or I'm doing something wrong there).

11-02-2009, 11:43 PM	#7
philn Focus Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 FF Member#: 70145 Location: Abbotsford, BC What I Drive: 2001 Blue SE Posts: 7 FF Reputation: 1 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (0)	This is the image of the connector and this is the hose Thanks

11-03-2009, 09:55 PM	#9
philn Focus Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 FF Member#: 70145 Location: Abbotsford, BC What I Drive: 2001 Blue SE Posts: 7 FF Reputation: 1 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (0)	Thanks again - I'll be attempting the resurrection on the weekend so I'll be back with the results later.

11-08-2009, 09:55 PM	#10
philn Focus Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 FF Member#: 70145 Location: Abbotsford, BC What I Drive: 2001 Blue SE Posts: 7 FF Reputation: 1 Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (0)	So it's back together and running OK but I have another problem. I have a left over bracket. I've looked all through the Haynes manual and all over Google images but haven't seen it anywhere. Does anyone recognize this? Thanks again.