Heater Control Valve Wire -- What Does It Do?

[focodave]

So I am having to replace my heater control valve because it sprung a leak this past weekend.
I removed the old one (looks like the original style valve) and there was a wire attached to it (not the control cable, but a regular wire)
What does this wire do?
I have ordered a new valve. Will it require this wire to be connected to it?
Here is a photo of my old valve and the mystery wire that I had to cut to remove the valve from the car:

[baltobernie]

I removed the old one (looks like the original style valve) and there was a wire attached to it ...

Not a wire, but a tiny tube. Some Spider heaters had a semi-automatic heater control valve. This tube was part of a mechanism, terminating in a reservoir bulb, that would somewhat adjust the position of the heater valve with the use of expanding liquid in the mechanism.

Not many have survived, and I don't know if they were effective when new.

[focodave]

Bernie,

Thanks very much.
Man, this forum teaches something new every day.....
I did a search in the forum, and it appears that no one has been able to describe the way that thing functions with 100% certainty.
Does anyone know if some mystery liquid is going to leak out of the cut capillary tube when the engine comes up to operating temperature?
I wouldn't want to ruin my new carpet and/or floor mats, etc.

Thanks,
Dave

[bradartigue]

It has been explained with absolute clarity several times - it is a thermostatic actuator, a sealed tube that projects into the heater core. It does not share fluid with the core. It can be removed. If soldered to the core it can be crimped and cut off.