Check those grounds!!!!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
From: Fleetwood PA
Check those grounds!!!!
Ground wires and straps that is.....
Kind of a crappy day here in PA so I decided to check over my grounds.
Pulled all the grounds including the main battery ground, starter to block bracket, and motor mount strap, starter mounting bolt, and alternator. Sanded, cleaned, crimped new ring terminals, reconnected them. Man what a difference!!
I was about to replace the battery because my starter was turning slow, and would hesitate on hot start. I checked and charged the battery, but would always have the same problem after a couple of starts.
My starter turns twice as fast, and doesn't hesitate when I turn the key on hot starts. My lights don't dim at idle, and the charging system jumped from 12.9 to 13.9 at the battery.
A coupe hours, a few wrenches, three or four ring terminals, a piece of sandpaper, and some brake cleaner to degrease and clean the surfaces and it's like having a new car. If your bored one day and want to do something that cost nothing, but can dramatically improve your electrical system, give it a try.
Kind of a crappy day here in PA so I decided to check over my grounds.
Pulled all the grounds including the main battery ground, starter to block bracket, and motor mount strap, starter mounting bolt, and alternator. Sanded, cleaned, crimped new ring terminals, reconnected them. Man what a difference!!
I was about to replace the battery because my starter was turning slow, and would hesitate on hot start. I checked and charged the battery, but would always have the same problem after a couple of starts.
My starter turns twice as fast, and doesn't hesitate when I turn the key on hot starts. My lights don't dim at idle, and the charging system jumped from 12.9 to 13.9 at the battery.
A coupe hours, a few wrenches, three or four ring terminals, a piece of sandpaper, and some brake cleaner to degrease and clean the surfaces and it's like having a new car. If your bored one day and want to do something that cost nothing, but can dramatically improve your electrical system, give it a try.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 610
Likes: 168
From: Vancouver B.C.
Great advice. Thanks for sharing. Especially the ground locations.
Sometimes it's just the simple things. I am sure many of us of replaced major parts when in fact it was something as simple as ground contact.
Sometimes it's just the simple things. I am sure many of us of replaced major parts when in fact it was something as simple as ground contact.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
From: Fleetwood PA
I didn't use shrink tube for any of the connections, just crimped a couple new terminals on. I had replaced the Neg cable last year, so I just unbolted it from the frame to re-sand, and retighten.
I guess I should add that I took it on faith that the grounds were in the right places to begin with when I did some work on the car, but as I was looking over my AIM I realized one wasn't, and one was missing.
The ground from the harness to the starter was actually grounded to the frame instead of being under the outboard starter mounting bolt, and was down to just a few strands holding it on. The ground from the voltage regulator was ok, but the terminal was not making good contact because the screw was corroded and shot.
The missing one was my fault....when I rebuilt the motor, I never put the front starter support bracket on the new starter, and didn't realize this also helps in grounding. I did put the motor mount ground strap to the block, but don't think I sanded the mounting point on the painted block(which is also the starter bracket mounting point)
There was enough contact at all these points that it ran, but not enough that it worked properly.
I guess I should add that I took it on faith that the grounds were in the right places to begin with when I did some work on the car, but as I was looking over my AIM I realized one wasn't, and one was missing.
The ground from the harness to the starter was actually grounded to the frame instead of being under the outboard starter mounting bolt, and was down to just a few strands holding it on. The ground from the voltage regulator was ok, but the terminal was not making good contact because the screw was corroded and shot.
The missing one was my fault....when I rebuilt the motor, I never put the front starter support bracket on the new starter, and didn't realize this also helps in grounding. I did put the motor mount ground strap to the block, but don't think I sanded the mounting point on the painted block(which is also the starter bracket mounting point)
There was enough contact at all these points that it ran, but not enough that it worked properly.
Last edited by whitehause; Sep 1, 2013 at 09:05 AM.
