Wire putty in trunk
 

I've seen this stuff on a few of my old cars used to keep a wire in place. Is this something the factory used or was this done by someone after the fact? It's usually dried up and hard as a rock.

If it was done by the factory, do they sell something to replace it? I was thinking of using something like plumbers putty.


https://i.imgur.com/1Jz8tId.jpg

Because it is not in the wire loom, I would guess it is not factory. I don't think I ever saw the factory do that. Looks more like someone adding wiring for something. Although I can't think what back there in the trunk.

No, that putty is not original to the car. Folding metal tabs or plastic retaining clips was the method used at the factory to secure a wire. If it passed through a hole there would be a rubber or plastic grommet. On the firewall that grommet may have had sealer applied over it on the engine side.

Looks like the electric trunk release wire.

That looks like electricians putty ... used for sealing around outdoor conduit junctions etc.

Pretty sure that wire was normally factory installed (rather than dealer) and typically wouldn't use a product like that ... but, you never know, maybe they were out of clips that day :)

I could see dealers/ repair shops doing this to fix cars? I have seen this on several cars as well

The one instance of a single wire in the trunk I can think of would be the power wire for a trunk light. I haven't seen putty used to hold it in place but if you want to replace it, I'd recommend using 3M strip caulk - it should be available at most any auto parts store (or online) and it never hardens. It's handy to have around for other uses, too; you can use it to seal around trim clips or emblem badges, or to stick the plastic liners inside door panels in place. https://www.amazon.com/3M-08578-Blac...000PEZ1L4?th=1

https://www.nonpaints.com/media/cata...ppen-zwart.jpg

The wire is for the remote truck release which is on my PHS. Maybe the factory didn't install it so the dealer had to and they probably just used whatever they had laying around the shop to secure the wire.

I think I may have some of the stuff Stuart is showing at my shop. We call it "dumb gum".

Monkey Sh-t as we called it in the Navy. Used it in cable openings between the bulkheads.

Yeah, the stuff's great for many applications

Duct seal, buy it in the electrical department at Lowe’s.

Didn't think about the trunk release - it's another accessory that could have a single wire not running in a harness.

Yep, between Duct Seal and the 3M strip caulk, both of which I keep on hand, you can solve most all sealing issues.

Yeap, I was an electrician in the Navy. We used to plug the pass-throughs with that crap when we pulled unused circuits.

Rg