Never seen this before (on any vehicle I've owned).

Someone who had this 1995 Chevy Suburban before me, put a ground cable from the hood to the firewall. I mean, a thick battery-type ground cable, not a simple wire.

What might that be for...?

Possibly related to this, the little trouble light socket/bulb nearby, underneath the hood, was taken off. Unbolted, and lead wire snipped. What prompted this...? I can get one to put back on - but does that then interfere with that big grounding cable, circuit-wise...?

 

Could be they had a two-way radio of some kind, and they wanted a good goundplane. Without that, a radio signal won't travel as far.

 

I'm not sure. The Seller bought the Suburban at an auction, and doesn't know much about it.

I suppose I could look around under the dash for empty brackets, or other evidence of a 2-way radio install.

Meanwhile, I can leave it be, right? It's not hurting anything?

 

No, I don't think so. It's just a ground wire.