Crankshaft sensor wiring

There are two kinds of crank sensors. The simple magnetic type uses two wires. Those with electronic circuitry inside use three wires. Auto parts stores have huge books listing almost every common replacement connector, but Ford is famous for using multiple designs at any given time. An easier way to get the right plug is to snip one off a car at a salvage yard.

When you splice the wires, be sure to solder them, then seal them with moisture-proof heat-shrink tubing. Never use electrical tape on a car as it will unravel into a gooey mess on a hot day.

I purchased the same wires that came off which had two wires, but there was a third wire on the car, not the replacement wires. What do I do with the third wire?

I am confused. Are you saying the original connector has two wires, and there is some third wire laying there? How many terminals are on the original crank sensor that you removed previously?

Yes, and it is unsheathed. There are two terminals on the original crank sensor.

If the third wire is a bare braided wire, that was an outer shield to keep out electrical interference. That would just have been wrapped around the other two wires, and wasn't connected to anything.

If that third wire is a regular wire, especially if it has a single connector on the end, that is likely for an option that was never installed on your car. They include that so it is there for those cars on the assembly line that do use it. Your car will be full of similar unused connectors like that.

So then that is not the issue. It is a bare braided wire. It sparks so it is hot?

do you have any ideas?

Any chance you can post a photo of the wires? A bare wire should not have voltage on it. It is more likely the wire is shorted to a 5.0 volt or 12 volt supply wire for some other circuit.