DIY: $15 grounding kit
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DIY: $15 grounding kit
here's my $15 grounding kit. anyone with 10+ year old OEM grounds that are corroding and starting to turn green needs to do this. 90% of all 10+ yr old car electrical problems are because of a bad ground signal.
here's what you need:
one 12" 4gauge top post style battery ground $5
one 32" 4gauge battery cable $5
one 16" 4gauge battery cable (optional) $5
the install:
12" top post goes from the battery to the OEM radiator support grounding point
32" cable goes from the battery terminal to the tranny ground
16" cable goes from the tranny ground to the firewall
here's the 32" cable connection to the battery terminal
if you really feel ambitious, you could take this a step further and connect a wire from the tranny ground to the alternator mounting bracket, but it's not essential.
the engine starts instantly now, the door locks and windows work twice as fast as they use to, and the engine seems to run a lot smoother.
here's what you need:
one 12" 4gauge top post style battery ground $5
one 32" 4gauge battery cable $5
one 16" 4gauge battery cable (optional) $5
the install:
12" top post goes from the battery to the OEM radiator support grounding point
32" cable goes from the battery terminal to the tranny ground
16" cable goes from the tranny ground to the firewall
here's the 32" cable connection to the battery terminal
if you really feel ambitious, you could take this a step further and connect a wire from the tranny ground to the alternator mounting bracket, but it's not essential.
the engine starts instantly now, the door locks and windows work twice as fast as they use to, and the engine seems to run a lot smoother.
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- Title Whore
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dude, you straight ROCK. i've been looking to create something like this for quite some time now.. i hate spending good scrill for something we could all make at HD... nice work, i commend you.
oh well, someone had to beat me to it.. never have time..
thanks!
oh well, someone had to beat me to it.. never have time..
thanks!
[b]'92 L Sedan[/b]
EJ20g 4.11 5sp LSD
[quote]e46 owners tend to be twats.
[/quote]
EJ20g 4.11 5sp LSD
[quote]e46 owners tend to be twats.
[/quote]
I hate to sound stupid but should the older grounds be left in place? I really think my car will benefit from this because all of my battery wires are starting to corrode. I just replaced the fitting on the little one that runs from the chassis (just above the round tranny filter) and when I cut it, it was corroded. It looks as if its corroded all the way so I need to replace it.
James
1991 Legacy LSi sold!!!
2003 Infiniti G35
1991 Legacy LSi sold!!!
2003 Infiniti G35
I did something similar to this a while ago. Except I added additional ground wiring, and left the old ones there.
I just ran an extra ground strap to the chassis and starter spots.
I don't know if I'd consider this the same as the multi-point grounding kits, but I'm sure it'd probably help especially on the older cars.
I just ran an extra ground strap to the chassis and starter spots.
I don't know if I'd consider this the same as the multi-point grounding kits, but I'm sure it'd probably help especially on the older cars.
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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- Vikash
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This procedure is basically just replacing the factory negative battery terminal wire, with the addition of a strap to the firewall.
The stock wires were marginal even when they were brand new, so it's easy to see how this improves starting and charging and stuff.
The stock wires were marginal even when they were brand new, so it's easy to see how this improves starting and charging and stuff.
"Just reading vrg3's convoluted, information-packed posts made me feel better all over again." -- subyluvr2212
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- Title Whore
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yup....tranny ground is a little wire that usually breaks. It was gone on the tranny I put in, I rewired a new one and hooked it up.
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
Mine had the ring connector on the tranny, but nothing else... No wire, just a bit of corroded wire on the connector. I also put a new one on.Legacy777 wrote:yup....tranny ground is a little wire that usually breaks. It was gone on the tranny I put in, I rewired a new one and hooked it up.
I may look into redoing my stock starter ground in a similar fashion...
"That shouldn't be a problem, since I do regularly visit the realm of subatmospheric manifold pressures." -- vrg3
I just did this exactly as the original poster described.
-4ga terminal, connecting the battery to the radiator support.
-4ga wire from the terminal to the tranny ground point.
-4ga wire from the tranny to the firewall.
-4ga wire from the firewall to the alternator mounting bracket.
Didn't notice a difference at all. My car still hesitates, my power windows are still very slow, etc. etc. Oh well, I probably have a few different problems.
-4ga terminal, connecting the battery to the radiator support.
-4ga wire from the terminal to the tranny ground point.
-4ga wire from the tranny to the firewall.
-4ga wire from the firewall to the alternator mounting bracket.
Didn't notice a difference at all. My car still hesitates, my power windows are still very slow, etc. etc. Oh well, I probably have a few different problems.
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- Moderator
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Did you make sure to clean all the contact points before installing all the new stuff? You need a stiff wire brush or ideally some sand paper. Also spray all the new connections down with WD40. It displaces moisture and is a rust inhibitor.Didn't notice a difference at all. My car still hesitates, my power windows are still very slow, etc. etc. Oh well, I probably have a few different problems.
1993 WMP BC6 5MT EJ22T 9psi 3.9:1 213k 205/55R16
62.6 m/s @ 0.66 bar. Gotta love boost. :)
62.6 m/s @ 0.66 bar. Gotta love boost. :)
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- In Neutral
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Todays project was re grounding my 93 legacy and I must say I was quite suprised what $20 in wire and connectors can do. Before my windows would crawl now they are noticably quicker. The first time i tuned the key after installing the new grounds it started right up. now i just got to get her out and driving a little to see if there is any enhancment in the hesitation factor. I would recommend that everyone with an older model car think about doing this some afternoon. Here is an outline of how i connected grounds.
All wire is 10g power wire.
1. battery to right strut mount ground
2. battery to left sturt mount ground
3. battery to tranny ground to firewall
4. battery to ground on head to alternator ground
there are a lot of wires coming off of the negative terminal of my battery now, but if it makes my subby fire right up it is worth it!
All wire is 10g power wire.
1. battery to right strut mount ground
2. battery to left sturt mount ground
3. battery to tranny ground to firewall
4. battery to ground on head to alternator ground
there are a lot of wires coming off of the negative terminal of my battery now, but if it makes my subby fire right up it is worth it!
1993 Legacy L sedan
-Blacked out trim and grill
-DIY grounding kit
-Ground Control Coilover conversion
-GR-2 Struts
-De-snorked
-My Dream: Install an Eaton M62 Supercharger.
-Blacked out trim and grill
-DIY grounding kit
-Ground Control Coilover conversion
-GR-2 Struts
-De-snorked
-My Dream: Install an Eaton M62 Supercharger.
i juyst got done doing this, used wire from battery to radiator support,wire from drivers strut to tranny to firewall, from left strut to intake manifold. revs much easier, no hesitation, locks work faster, as do windows, i used wire i had laying around, well i cut it off a pair of old jusmper cables, so its like 4-6 gauge, not sure if 4 gauge normal wire would work better or not, if you knwo please tell me, i am impressed witht he results already, so if it could be better i would be even happier,let me know thanks
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- Title Whore
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- Second Gear
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re
yeah looks like the links to the pics got messed up... can you re-host them???
-94 Legacy L
-94 SVX LSi
-08 Legacy 3.0R
-And the list of things your should never say again...gets longer....
-94 SVX LSi
-08 Legacy 3.0R
-And the list of things your should never say again...gets longer....
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- Title Whore
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I don't mean this as showing off...I just decided to carry my HD electrical a step further, since I plan to take my car where it gets to 50 below during the winter.
About a month ago, I redid all my battery and ground cables and installed dual batteries. I used two NAPA orbital 750-CCA batteries. Each positive post connects directly to the starter with a 000-gauge fine-strand arctic-rated cable (including the insulation, the cable is about as big around as your thumb). Each negative post connects to the factory engine/tranny ground point with the same type of cable. I also redid the radiator-support cable and the alternator-to-battery cable with 2-gauge fine-strand arctic-rated cable.
Holy crap, this thing cranks fast now! I never had any problems with slow windows and such before, so I don't know if it made any difference there. The voltage drop is also much lower across most of the cables, so the charging voltage at the battery itself is higher.
About a month ago, I redid all my battery and ground cables and installed dual batteries. I used two NAPA orbital 750-CCA batteries. Each positive post connects directly to the starter with a 000-gauge fine-strand arctic-rated cable (including the insulation, the cable is about as big around as your thumb). Each negative post connects to the factory engine/tranny ground point with the same type of cable. I also redid the radiator-support cable and the alternator-to-battery cable with 2-gauge fine-strand arctic-rated cable.
Holy crap, this thing cranks fast now! I never had any problems with slow windows and such before, so I don't know if it made any difference there. The voltage drop is also much lower across most of the cables, so the charging voltage at the battery itself is higher.