Ground Issue?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 185
Likes: 1
From: Moyock NC
Ground Issue?
88 vert auto. Car ran fine but started to show issues with gauges. After battery ran down, I jumped it and now dash is out, car wont start unless you keep gas all the way down and won't idle without shutting off. I checked all fuses. SES lite on when I get it started but I cannot pull any codes. When I jump the terminal, the SES never flashes, as if the jump doesn't work, It did work at one time. All seems to point to ground issue. Car did get rain inside and has been outside for a long time. I don't know where or how to start...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 897
Likes: 12
From: Land of Whiskey Rebels, PA
Well, to start with, there are two grounds on the frame rail you should check. One is under the air conditioner near the firewall. And, one is under the battery box. Both are susceptible to getting rusty under the lug. Unbolt, clean the spot to bare metal (I used an oval rotary file in a drill), clean BOTH faces of the lug, apply a little anti-sieze or anit-oxidant (NoAlOx, PenetrOx) to those faces, and tighten 'em down.
There are grounds under the dash, too. One is in the left foot well. Pull back the carpet in the corner and you should see it.
As I have a '90 with analog gauges, I have no experience with the digital gauge cluster. But, there are many here who do. If you don't have a Helm Factory Service Manual, get one. It has the locations of all the grounds, plus, a whole lot more.
Hope this helps.
There are grounds under the dash, too. One is in the left foot well. Pull back the carpet in the corner and you should see it.
As I have a '90 with analog gauges, I have no experience with the digital gauge cluster. But, there are many here who do. If you don't have a Helm Factory Service Manual, get one. It has the locations of all the grounds, plus, a whole lot more.
Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 185
Likes: 1
From: Moyock NC
Ecm
Still chasing down this issue. I'm wondering if I have a bad ECM. I did replace it before this issue arose and everything was fine. After the low battery jump start all the issues arose. I bought an ECM from advance and noticed it did not have the exact numbers on it as the original. Is there a way to find out exactly which ECM is the exact replacement? Also, I can't seem to find the ground located by the steering column...? Also, did get a FSM which is great!
Last edited by GotMe1; Nov 11, 2012 at 09:09 AM.
