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I know, I know...This has been posted over and over, but I have yet to find the darn thing. I have an '81. It's having grounding issue that is affecting the instrument panel. I've run a permanent 8 gauge wire from the battery to the front pillar frame (behind the driver side kick panel), and secured it solid. So, I am sure now, that I have a reliable ground source, and the frame is well grounded . I have a service manual, and previous posts say that the common ground point for the instrument panel is located "on the left hinge pillar above the courtesy light"...ok??? So this would be behind the drivers side kick panel I assume?? Well, I have my entire interior ripped apart...kick panels, dash, upper pillar covers, center console, door panels.....NOTHING!!! I can't find this grounding point!!! Please help!!!!! I know I could just pick any instrument panel ground wire (eg.. cig lighter, radio ground), and connect it to my new batt ground, but I want to do this right....and it's pissing me off that I can't find it. This is my first post, but have been on this site for multiple issues. I WILL follow up with resolution. Thanks in advance!!
it is not behind the kick panel, it is up much higher, above the kick panel,
you pretty much have to remove the drivers side gauge cluster,
to access the central gnd. location.
(Image just to the left of the light switch)
OMG!!!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! "(Image just to the left of the light switch)"...Excellent description!!!!!!!! I was hoping to see a poor contact there, but I didn't. I guess that's why it is there..to keep it from the elements. Gonna pull it off, grind down to shiny metal and bolt it back up with some locktite, and see it that helps. Thanks again!!!!!
it is not behind the kick panel, it is up much higher, above the kick panel,
you pretty much have to remove the drivers side gauge cluster,
to access the central gnd. location.
(Image just to the left of the light switch)
Thanks for the advice, Ill start there and see where it takes me
Trying to get to the G202 Ground so that I can clean it. Having issues with the connection to the entire back (Tail lights, brakes, side markers - intermittently wont work entirely) and trying to get down to the bottom of what exactly is the issue. The codes its throwing seem to be related to BCM communication issues. (U1088, U1193, U1024, U1040, U1301, U1064, U1017, U1153, U1000) If you have any other ideas on why I'm getting this many codes but the only issues I actually see are with the back end electronics please let me know. Someone mentioned it could be a ground issue for the lights on the back. I'm assuming they're referencing (2) G402 in the diagram.
How do you get the fastener clips that attached the A pillar to release? I can't figure out how the get the plastic to release so that I can get to the BCM ground.
1981 Instrument Panel Ground Location
I know, I know...This has been posted over and over, but I have yet to find the darn thing. I have an '81. It's having grounding issue that is affecting the instrument panel. I've run a permanent 8 gauge wire from the battery to the front pillar frame (behind the driver side kick panel), and secured it solid. So, I am sure now, that I have a reliable ground source, and the frame is well grounded 
. I have a service manual, and previous posts say that the common ground point for the instrument panel is located "on the left hinge pillar above the courtesy light"...ok??? So this would be behind the drivers side kick panel I assume?? Well, I have my entire interior ripped apart...kick panels, dash, upper pillar covers, center console, door panels.....NOTHING!!! I can't find this grounding point!!! Please help!!!!! I know I could just pick any instrument panel ground wire (eg.. cig lighter, radio ground), and connect it to my new batt ground, but I want to do this right....and it's pissing me off that I can't find it. 
This is my first post, but have been on this site for multiple issues. I WILL follow up with resolution. Thanks in advance!!
