What's This Electrical Plug?

In the bottom left of the pic below you can see an electrical plug on a short red wire coming off the back of the alternator.
Anyone know what it's for?
I was investigating what smelled like a burning plastic smell from my engine bay when I spotted it.
The smell wasn't like burning wiring (I know that smell only too well!) but like plastic. I couldn't find anything that looked melted or scorched, and couldn't spot any plastic bags or similar stuck to the exhaust so I intend to keep a suspicious eye (and nose) on the engine area. In the meantime I'm curious about that plug, which looks like it has never been plugged into anything.

Cheers,
Rich

BTW: I did check both fuse boxes and any visible wiring as well for signs of overheating.

I can't see the wire in the picture.

It looks like an aftermarket connection, probably for an ammeter/voltmeter or something.:shrug:

I dont think thats a "normal" wire as David said

david aiketgate wrote: It looks like an aftermarket connection, probably for an ammeter/voltmeter or something.:shrug:

I'd go with that, probably have a better idea if we knew what it looks like at the alternator end.

Sorry, that wasn't the best picture. Here is a closer shot. As I said it looks like it has been there and unplugged for a very long time. I imagine it's prpbably best ignored but I am curios as to what purpose it may serve. The car has (had) no aftermarket stuff so I can't see a previous owner fitting it.

it almost looks like a fuse holder, but probably a bit to large a diameter for that....unless its a big wattage fuse, the red cable also indicates its a possible live feed off the alternator

It has a single female spade connector inside and looks like it is meant to snap into the male side of the connector.
It would be quite a secure connection but it's rather odd that it would be on the wire so close to the alternator. At first I thought it may be to connect some optional circuit but it doesn't look like something MGR would do.
I suppose it could have been for some stereo equipment (maybe an amp? The car does have a decent head unit) that was removed before sale.

Rich in Vancouver wrote: ...I suppose it could have been for some stereo equipment (maybe an amp? The car does have a decent head unit) that was removed before sale.

could be, altho it would be more usual (and a damn sight easier) to take a live direct from the battery. Very odd.

I suppose it will have to remain a mystery.
As long as it's nothing important (Like the power lead to the warp drive) I will just leave it alone.

Cheers,
Rich

Rich in Vancouver wrote: ......the power lead to the warp drive......

but of course, thats it !!! :woohoo: :woohoo:

maybe some sort of suppressor to stop interference on the car stereo.