Wire fretting in Engine compartment- have you noticed any?

[Nemesis]

Hello everyone, first wishing you, your families and all that are close to you are well and managing through the Covid-19 pandemic.

I went out to my 2018 Clarity with 33,000 miles this morning to add washer fluid, check oil and just do a visual inspection of the car. While doing so, I noticed a wire in front of the oil dip stick had fretting all the way through the outer casing but not the inner casing. I am sure it was caused by the zip tie when the engine is on (vibrations). Not sure if this will cause a future problem and will address it during my next service visit. Honestly, I can fix it but want to show it to the dealer nonetheless. Curious if others have the same wire fretting on their vehicles?

 

[MrFixit]

Interesting...

I went out and looked at mine (2018 PHEV Touring), and the wire that you identify with the fraying does not exist in mine !
Do you have a BEV? I have the orange high-voltage wire, and the other black wire that has the "Y" just before leading to the ground bolt, but the 3rd wire that is fraying for you (in the middle and Zip-tied to the "Y") just isn't there !

 

[Nemesis]

My car is a 2018 PHEV. Not a BEV. It is the Touring model as well. This is interesting if our setup is different. Not sure what to make of it yet. Thanks for responding.

 

[JustAnotherPoorDriver]

Be interesting to know both build dates/VINs--could be a manufacturing change early in 2018 when someone noticed some fraying...

I'll go look at my (~March 2018 built) touring PHEV when I go out next; probably midweek (my car is in a commercial garage, I'm in NYC)

 

[MrFixit]

Just to illustrate, here is what mine looks like:

My manufacture date is - 8/'18... The VIN ends in 017995

 

[JustAnotherPoorDriver]

The plot thickens...I may have to make a field trip later tonight

 

[Danks]

Just to illustrate, here is what mine looks like:

View attachment 8089

My manufacture date is - 8/'18... The VIN ends in 017995

My 2019 looks like yours.

 

[Robert_Alabama]

@MrFixit , mine is identical to yours, no third wire. 2018 Touring, vin ends in 009561. Manufacture date 03/18. @Nemesis, it will be interesting to hear why these are different.

 

[MrFixit]

@Nemesis -
Have you had this car since new?
Could previous owner have added some accessory with this wire?

 

[JohnT]

Hello everyone, first wishing you, your families and all that are close to you are well and managing through the Covid-19 pandemic.

I went out to my 2018 Clarity with 33,000 miles this morning to add washer fluid, check oil and just do a visual inspection of the car. While doing so, I noticed a wire in front of the oil dip stick had fretting all the way through the outer casing but not the inner casing. I am sure it was caused by the zip tie when the engine is on (vibrations). Not sure if this will cause a future problem and will address it during my next service visit. Honestly, I can fix it but want to show it to the dealer nonetheless. Curious if others have the same wire fretting on their vehicles?

Hi Nemesis Just checked, mine is the same as Mr Fixit... no gray wire; just the black ones, no fraying.. Canadian Touring Red 2018...

 

[Evfred]

2019 Canadian Base. No 3rd wire. Bizzare!

 

[Technobody]

My 2019 (made in Dec 2018) looks the same as Mr Fixit's.

 

[Nemesis]

My build date is 12/17, last numbers in the vin: 004068.

 

[JustAnotherPoorDriver]

My build date is 12/17, last numbers in the vin: 004068.

So it looks like a very early car--it does sound as if they made the change, probably because of the chafing, early in 2018...

 

[Nemesis]

Yes, I've owned sinc2 new. I will trace the wire to see what its connected to. Bizarro......

 

[JustAnotherPoorDriver]

Please take pictures at both ends--those with a different routing can then take similar pictures--maybe you can get the dealer to install a new harness on the new routing as a warranty fix.

 

[Nemesis]

Okay, I found the answer. Mr Fixit was on to something regarding a dealer installed option. I traced the wires to the factory engine block heater my dealers installed when the car was new. This is something my dealer recommended for Northeast cars. I never had a reason to trace the wire because it's been there since new and it looked factory. I'm attaching a picture of the plug in the front of my car.

Really appreciate the responses, suggestions and the picture verifications of other cars, so I had to trace the wires lol. Learned something new today with your help. Thanks.

 

[JustAnotherPoorDriver]

Interesting. I wonder if Canadian cars have an engine block heater?

Anyway, I'd take it back to the dealer for a warranty fix.

 

[Nemesis]

Will do. I plan to have the dealer address it at my next service. Thanks

 

[KentuckyKen]

Glad you found out what that third wire was and thanks for letting us know. I was going crazy tying to find it in mine (mfg 12/18).
BTW, that zip tie looks way too tight and appears to be digging into the inner wrap on that wire bundle. I’d definitely replace it with one just barely snugged in after adding some padding like electrical tape. No way to replace the loom without removing one end of that wire. That may be why it wore through the outer loom.