This is a connection located on top of the water pump housing and near the coolant filler neck on an S4(A/T). I noticed the plastic sheathing is becoming brittle and is starting to crack and expose the wire itself in a small spot or two. Does someone know how this could possibly affect engine performance and also what would be the best way to fix the problem. The wire strand is very thin and electrical tape would probably be ineffective due to the heat created by the engine.The only way to get some shrink wrap on the wire would be to either cut it and then have to resolder it(wonder if engine heat would melt solder), or to cut a slit in some heat wrap and slide it over the damaged portion of the wire and then tape it up somehow.

 

no way would the engine be hot enough at that proximity to melt solder.

 

It's the temp switch for the auxiliary electric fan in front of the A/C condensor. It turns the fan on if coolant reaches 207degF, but has no effect on how the engine runs.

Insulation tape and solder are both fine in the engine bay.

 

+1 NZ.. post above. Auxiliary fan thermoswitch. I'd use a non-insulated female connector, cut the wire, strip wire, crimp connector, solder for good insurance, slide heatshink over and be done.