what would happen if my ground wire was not connected?

 

You have a couple of grounds. If the ground to your battery wasn't connected then obviously your car wouldn't start. But if some of your grounds weren't connected you could have trouble possibly starting your car or the function of some things. Some people remove the ground connecting to the valve cover and seem to be okay but the more grounds the better.

 

Which one?
Battery to the body?
Trans to the body?
Valve cover to the body?

 

sorry the valve cover to the body. i popped my hood today and it wasn't connected

 

Is it a big concern that is not connected, no.
Get a 10mm nut for the Valve cover and get it connected.
DO NOT use a SS Steel Braided Strap. They are CRAP. Copper better than Steel.

 

ok i still have the wire, just the bolt is missing to the valve cover, i will do that sometime soon.

 

Make sure you connect it to the right place. The valve cover has an open threaded hole on the timing belt cover that many people will put a bolt in for the ground wire. This is NOT the correct location and the ground wire will not be properly grounding the engine head.

The wire goes on the left front-most valve cover stud. Place the metal washer/grommet over the stud (w/ the valve cover on), then the ground wire terminal, and then put the acorn nut on top of that. That will properly ground the engine head to the frame of the car, which itself is grounded to the battery.