I broke down my front suspension the other day and installed new sway bar end links, ball joints, and rack bushings. While I was under the car, I noticed a frayed cable that was connected up next to the block, under the driver's side head. The cable hangs down about a foot and is not connected to anything on the other end. The cable is not a solid metal wire, but is more a kind of weave. Anybody have any idea what it is/what it's supposed to be connected to?

 

I am not sure but being a weave type wire it sounds like that is a ground. Maybe someone else can help you more

 

I think I've pinpointed what it is after some further searching. From what I can tell it's the engine to chassis ground wire. It's not a cylindrical wire, it's flat and the inside is braided. If I'm remembering right, it was connected either next to or on the driver's side motor mount, but on my car the other end isn't connected to anything. Anybody know where exactly the other end of that wire is supposed to connect?

 

It connects to the chassis, to a bracket a couple inches forward of the motor mount. As you have found it's not 100% essential, although Ford thought it was worth spending money on.