Thanks. I take your advice on the rotor is NOT to pry it off? What about the debris if I successfully crush the rotor--won't it get in the distributor and cause possible problems?

Regarding the yellow wire, the end is just frayed insulated copper wire. Its length is sufficient to run from the center of the very back of the engine compartment (where it comes out of some type of box with other wires going various places) to the battery, but my son saw it sitting across the engine going towards the front right corner. The accident did substantial damage to the grill area, and a body shop had to pull the upper tie bar (the piece that the hood fits down on in front) out, but all the wiring for those lights appear intact.