Ground problem
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 2
From: Ramona CA
Ground problem
I'm getting ABS, TC, AH lights on my cluster. I looked at the ground near the ABS box on driver's side near head light. It's (or was) a copper post into the frame. Some time before I bought the car the copper post was sheared off so someone drilled a hole into the frame and anchored the ground connector with a phillips head screw. It worked for a while but now I get a steady error. My question: is there a way to get the copper connector out and replace it with a new one? I assume GM used copper to get the best ground. Please PM me or email me directly to rfsweitzer@yahoo.com.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,030
Likes: 9,786
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
What codes do you have? If you aren't getting a C1214 code monkeying around with that ground will not help. That ground is for the BPMV motor. The EBCM electronics ground is located on the other side of the car under the battery with G104.
Bill
Bill
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
They are a plated STEEL post thats spot welded to the frame. Ive had soooooo many ground issues on my 98 that Ive learned what and what NOT to do. If the ground post broke off,,short of spot welding or tig welding on another one, drilling a small hole of the correct size in the frame right where it broke off and using a self tapping metal screw is your BEST bet.
Home Depot has some very nice self tapping screws.
The other place where the stud breaks off a lot is G-401
If you look at the C6 grounding scheme,,,you will see that GM learned that the non water tight tight ground connector and the STUD was NOT the best grounding method. They went to a screw and ground wire with an eyelet. So far it seems to work very well.
BC
Home Depot has some very nice self tapping screws.
The other place where the stud breaks off a lot is G-401
If you look at the C6 grounding scheme,,,you will see that GM learned that the non water tight tight ground connector and the STUD was NOT the best grounding method. They went to a screw and ground wire with an eyelet. So far it seems to work very well.
BC
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
From: Fallbrook Ca
I had a series of bad codes being set that were so erronious I suspected the grounding system.
I took it to the dealer and told them to clean every ground on the car. As it turns out, there are 5, so they told me. I took pictures of all the grounds right afterward to verufy the location and that they were clean. Now if I could only find them.
By the way, this fixed the problem. Bad grounding messes with computer sensors big time.
I took it to the dealer and told them to clean every ground on the car. As it turns out, there are 5, so they told me. I took pictures of all the grounds right afterward to verufy the location and that they were clean. Now if I could only find them.
By the way, this fixed the problem. Bad grounding messes with computer sensors big time.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,358
Likes: 1,127
From: Dyer, IN
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 5
From: Denver, North Carolina
I had a series of bad codes being set that were so erronious I suspected the grounding system.
I took it to the dealer and told them to clean every ground on the car. As it turns out, there are 5, so they told me. I took pictures of all the grounds right afterward to verufy the location and that they were clean. Now if I could only find them.
By the way, this fixed the problem. Bad grounding messes with computer sensors big time.
I took it to the dealer and told them to clean every ground on the car. As it turns out, there are 5, so they told me. I took pictures of all the grounds right afterward to verufy the location and that they were clean. Now if I could only find them.
By the way, this fixed the problem. Bad grounding messes with computer sensors big time.
Last edited by SebringSixSpeed; Jan 7, 2010 at 01:17 PM.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
When I saw that the dealer told him they only cleaned 5 grounds
I was thinking, boy you got screwed!
You need to find a better stealership!
Before the clean ground connections get corroded again, purchase some anti-corrosive compound and apply it to the ground points.
Lucky
When I had all the issues with my 98 Coupe, and figured out it was a ground issue, I went to the C5/C6 Birthday Bash in Bowling Green KY shortly after the repair and met one of the the GM Corvette assembly line troubleshooters.
I asked him why they over engineered that stupid ground system connector. He laughed and said:
QUOTE " Just hack off that stupid connector and terminate all the wires in a ground lug and screw it to the frame. Thats how they fixed that problem on the C6. "
Bill
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
So, does cleaning G104 with that problem in most cases? I have my car in the garage changing oil and thought I would give it a shot while the car is down there. I am going to give it a shot anyway just to see. I have had the C1214 for some time now. About a week ago, the code went away for about a day.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I cleaned the G104. This ground connection has 3 wires on it. I found one of the smaller wires had a sticker on the ring part of the lug. When I took it apart I could see nothing that would cause any problems. I did take a wire brush to every lug and the post anyway just to be sure. I put the largest lug down first then the smallest and finally the medium size lug.
However, after starting the car again, still have the same service ABS, Traction Control Etc. I did not try to clear the codes though. I need to go back and give that a shot too I guess.
However, after starting the car again, still have the same service ABS, Traction Control Etc. I did not try to clear the codes though. I need to go back and give that a shot too I guess.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,358
Likes: 1,127
From: Dyer, IN
I cleaned the G104. This ground connection has 3 wires on it. I found one of the smaller wires had a sticker on the ring part of the lug. When I took it apart I could see nothing that would cause any problems. I did take a wire brush to every lug and the post anyway just to be sure. I put the largest lug down first then the smallest and finally the medium size lug.
However, after starting the car again, still have the same service ABS, Traction Control Etc. I did not try to clear the codes though. I need to go back and give that a shot too I guess.
However, after starting the car again, still have the same service ABS, Traction Control Etc. I did not try to clear the codes though. I need to go back and give that a shot too I guess.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I have mostly been a C3 guy for those 10 years. I picked up the Z 2 years ago and this started happening off and on about 6 months into the car but it had less than 20k miles on it. I knew it was going to have to be sent out but I just want to cover all of my bases first. No need in spending the money if I can fix it myself.
