Removed the grill from my 90 4Runner to replace headlights and found this connector hanging there with corrosion on the ends of the wires. It looks like it ties into the wiring for the a/c receiver (canister with sight glass on top that is in front of the radiator to the right). I found a solid metal block bolted to the truck and it looks like the connectors should be attached. I tested the leads and both wires coming out of connector are hot with truck on and off, so it isn't a ground.

I drove around and found two 4runner to compare, one rust bucket 90 had the connectors just hanging there like mine, but one clean 93 had connectors attached the wires and then attached to the metal block. So, I'm not sure if mine should be connected or not and can't find anything in the FSM about this.

Please take a look at your 2nd Gen 4Runner and let me know what you see. If you get down and look up through the chrome bumper opening to the right of the front license plate, you'll see the connector I'm talking about. It is cylindrical and about 3" long with a whitish and darkish wire coming out of it. Is this connector attached to the metal block bolted behind the connector or are the wires loose? If it is connected, please let me know year and transmission of your 4R. Thanks for your help!

 

This question has come up before for that very item. If I remember, that's an outside air temperature probe.

 

Interesting. So, would this be for a temp. readout simply for the driver's amusement (ie an optional thermometer) or does the a/c need to know the outside temperature (ie should I try to reconnect them)?

 

For AC. Compressor should not run under around 40 degrees?

 

I searched and found the thread you are talking about. Thank ya much for the help. Looks like I'm ok leaving them disconnected, but I'll give a shot at trying to reconnect them anyways.