Any idea what this wire might be??

[SlimPickins]

Hey all. I'm tending to some deferred maintenance on a new-to-me '98 Monty 3.5L. I noticed a burnt area on my 'high temp' split loom corrugated wire cover just above the driver's side valve cover. I opened up and cut away the damaged loom and saw a blue wire that had separated, probably due to heat. I don't recall anything that didn't work on the vehicle but I only had it running for a couple of months before tearing into it. Look familiar? Any ideas on gauge? I assume I should probably reconnect it...

For orientation, the dark portion is the driver's side firewall, the wiring loom is traversing from firewall to front of car over the driver's side valve cover. Blue towel is covering the driver's side head as the valve cover has been removed.

 

[Salonika]

I believe the big ones are your wires heading to the starter and alternator. Someone did work on your motor and didn't route it in the correct place. Every time the EGR is used, it cooked that spot just a little bit. It is supposed to be routed inside the EGR (more under the intake manifold) instead of around the outside of it. You got lucky, one of the wires in that group is not fused and comes right off the battery positive.

 

[nckwltn]

2nd on starter and alternator wire.

Could that little wire be some kind of aux power or voltage sensor?

Starter wire disconnects via solenoid. But I assume alternator is always hot to battery