To clear up JGM2's confusion:

Trout has an STi V which is very fast.
TROUSER has an STi which is fast and has been in Fast Car.

On topic:
Still debating if I should start this mod on my MY01.

 

Nick... I solder 4 Gauge cable

David

 

That explains it!!

Thank you..

I still feel that 5point is over kill but then you can never do too much I guess..

8pounds from halford with connectors already on for 3point was what I did...

JGM

 

b4 boy,
cheers matey,i will pop down to halfords tomorrow and have a look.
roy..

 

if the hks earth kit is good enough for mr. rawle, then it is good enough for me

 

I did the earths on my MY94 wrx and cold running has greatly inproved, no stuttering or hesitation and smoother idle.

When heated up it seems a little smoother (though not completely sure cuz my gubbed turbo's still to be replaced).

I used 3 x 28inch earth cables from Halfords (3 quid each) and 2 x 4 gauge lengths of cable i had lying around.

Used the following cabling...

1) Battery earth to passenger side suspension turret (28inch cable)
2) Battery earth to driver side suspension turret (4 gauge, about 5 feet long)
3) Battery earth to block (4 gauge,about 2 feet long)
4) Block to passenger side suspension turret (28inch cable)
5) Block to driver side suspension turret (28inch cable)

 

Marty: A lighter guage earth wire from the alternator to the battery would possibly help and means you have a pretty comprehensive set up.

 

As a electronic engenier I have worked a lot on large Computer, where earth problems are well known. Onthe pics and the text I can see some of you often connect earth wire fron e.g. suspension turret to block and then from block to battery, this is agains basis rules for earthing and your are building up what is known as a ground loop ( Known in computer network cabeling) Ground loops can create problems as you always have some resistance in a wire, and will be able to measure a very small voltages from one ground point to another Ground point.
Basic rule is All ground wires must go to a common point - Battery. From Block to Battery. from Suspension turret to battery. From ECU to Battery etc.
I'm not sure Ground loops will have any effect on a car, but why not do it right when you buy all those nice cables. regards Lars

 

Now you've done it Lars

Mikey

 

no lars,ground loops dont affect cars in any way or form.

the bodywork of car is a very basic conductor of electricity but with very high resistance between body panels and the engine.
as with most dc battery circiuts(in this case a car battery)there are only two factors of a battery, a positive and a negative.

ground loop earth is a problem encountered by computer systems(mainly large systems)were an ac signal and a dc signal are used in conjunction together.electronics are very unstable and are subject to spikes and volt drops.

i do however agree with lars,,all earth cables should be run seperately.
as lars said,

From Block to Battery. from Suspension turret to battery. From ECU to Battery etc.

i am not sure about the hks kit if it joins cable to cable and then to battery??????

or if it has seperate cables to each point of earth,,,

can anyone varifie this ?????????????

 

oh dear, even i am confused now,i thought i was back at work then for a moment,,,,


time for a pint me thinks!!!!!!!!!!

 

Agree Buzzerboyroy, and as I stated

"I'm not sure Ground loops will have any effect on a car"

But for sure it has on large Computers, I agree it is related to mix of AC and Dc signals, but that the same in a car with an ECU, lambda signals etc. maybe it's not an AC signal, but a pulsing DC signal.... just in case I'll take all my ground wires directly to the battery when I do my ground wiring.

Imagine you add 1Kg of ground wire on a standard scooby, this is the same as detune it 0.2 BHP
So when you add ground wires I suggest you start a project called "Driver lose weight" If you get rid off 10KG its the same as getting 2 BHP free of charge

 

Just one question?

Knowing something about about earthing, I have a serious worry about sorting out a problem in this manner. If there is an inherent problem with corroded earths on an engine the current will want to find the next best conductor to ground. When an engine starts it can draw up to 200-300 amps in some cases. A substantial earth strap from engine to ground i.e. chassis or body usually handles this very well. If it takes an alternative route due to a duff earth strap then it may go through this nice earthing mod. The cable may not be up to these high currents and you may have a bit of a fire on your hands if not careful. My suggestion is sort the route of the problem out and check and clean the existing engine earth points.

If you do have to earth the ECU do this earth mod direct to body or direct to the negative of the battery.

Any comments......?

Pete

 

That's an interesting point.

Obviously, lots of people have done this already. Has anyone had any problems or bad experiences of this kind?

Is this just scaremongering OR is this a real possibility? How much of a risk is involved?

....Darren

 

i think you are all getting a bit carried away here, the object of this earthing is to get all points at the same potential ( ie battery -ve ) which appararently the origianl earthing leaves a bit to be desired. Adding 6mm or greater to all the places mentioned is going help, and you are not going to notice any difference wether you run every cable back to the battery post or link them in a chain effect. Just my personal opinion here but i think some of you are confusing others to much.

Gary

 

Don't know about scare mongering.
Talked over the mod with a friend at work and he said that on one of his old cars the main earth point between engine and chassis broke and routed it self through the stereo and fried all the dash loom.
He just said if the main earth isn't good then electrickery being what it is it will look for the easiest route and that could be our nice new mod.
I am asking and raising out of geniune intrest before i do the said mod.
The post above by me was actually his words so really i'm just looking for feedback before i either cook or improve my car.

Any automotive electrical experts wanna clear this up for us??

Thanks

Pete

 

oh dear,
i think you are delving a little to deep into this now,all we are doing here is making what is already there better,,,
the bodywork/engine earth join to the battery earth terminal(neutral),which is alreary there.
is not rocket science,you dont need a degree to do this,
if anyone has heard or had an ecu,or engine blow up becouse of this modification i would be very very shocked and would question the installer of the cables ,,as it wont happen.
hks would not make a kit do do this modification if they knew it would blow an ecu would they???

never mind,,,,,rant over,,hehehehehehe,,happy earthing,,roy

 

Roy

I have spent the morning trawling halfords, Car audio places and an electrical factors and i still can't get all i want to do this job. I am so frustrated.
Would the 8 gauge audio earth they sell in halfords suffice although no kind of heat shielding???

The two above posts were raised because of what someone else had mentioned to me surely you can understand a bit nerveousness about your pride and joy.

Thanks

Pete

 

Second that post,

Anyone know of a site on the web we could order the components from?

 

i made myself a 3 point earth system yesterday at work and the result was amazing 95 wrx feels like a different car to drive i made mine with 10 mm audio earthing cable from halfords 3.95 euros per mtre crimped 8mm meatal eyes on to the end in a vice then gently heated the top of the eye with oxy accetalene once hot enough ran solder between wire and eyes much better way of ensuring a very good connection.

 

Bit the Bullet!!!!
Another trip to halfords grabbed an assitant told him what i wanted to do. He said we have actually got battery cables in varying lengths with the eyes already attached so bought three black ones at 30 cm each and ran one from -ive on battery to pass suspension turret, turret to pass side of engine and one from drivers side engine to suspension turret. Hope this is right.
Not tried yet but will report back on findings>
£10 all in not bad at all.

Pete

[Edited by Simmo2 - 11/16/2002 2:42:29 PM]

 

I've got sitting in the cupboard a reel of
"27amp cable 3.0mm -- max watts @ 12v=330w"
is it safe to use this for the earthing mod???
or must it be 6mm cable ?

Brian

 

Pete.looks like on your post above you said connected from LIVE????????????on batery.hope not m8 should be neg.
Dug

 

WOW I have just done the mod with 4mm wire and eyelet crimps, made up and attached only 4 leads and the clutch judder that was going to cost me over £400 for a new cluch has gone.

Nice one BuzzerBoy

Well impressed.

 

The way things are going, we just need a few more people to do this and we'll have World Peace! Just going to have a go at mine now.

Julian.

 

s13dug

-ive minus sign not + plus sign = negative.
The mod has made the car smoother on idle and the radio seems alot clearer.

Thanks Guy's


Pete

 

I smell snake oil....

<<WOW I have just done the mod with 4mm wire and eyelet crimps, made up and attached only 4 leads and the clutch judder that was going to cost me over £400 for a new cluch has gone.>>

ColinP - there is no possible way that the earthing mod can affect your clutch (or are you taking the ****?? )

Did the mod yesterday morning (UK MY95) since I've been having some starting problems. Used three lengths of Battery connectors from Halfords, the short (neg to manifold), med (neg to nearside turret) and long (block to offside turret). Took half an hour (most of time faffing with emerycloth to clean old earthing contacts) HINT: buy some new bolts and star washers.

RESULT: Started the car and it needed less than half a turn to start. I thought WOW!! Went for a drive and everything felt smoother EVEN my gearbox!!!?? Thought this can't be right. Started it this morning and was back to the same 2 - 4 cranks before she fired up. Looking more objectively, I don't think it's made much difference at all.

CONCLUSIONS: Initially I was impressed and well chuffed. But now I'm a bit dubious to say the least. I'm sure cleaning the corrosion off the body earthing points has got to be a good thing and will help cars with marginal electrics. But as far as making everything smoother, better, faster, etc. I haven't seen it.

Just my opinion.

Andy

 

Well Yesterday fitted my earth kit. Cable and connectors all supplied from engineers at work saved myself a whole £8 lol

My my 94 has suffered from most of the comments made on this thread ie:-
(1) cold running probs!
(2) And more frustrating lights dimming to the sound of the bass from the stereo some battery drain probs there then?

And then low and behold this thread
engine earth,,wow what a difference!!!!!!
I have attached some pics of my three point set up below










And Now for the result....

erm ahh!! Completely no difference at all???

Did get to mess around with my toy for a whole ten mins so not a complete waste of time

Can any one offer a reason why my lights dim to the sound of my bass on the stereo...

Mick Yorkshire

 

do you have a amplifier fitted to the car????????????

good clear pics by the way!!!!!!!!!

 

Hi There Buzzerboy.

Yes i have got one kfc400w amp running one 12in sub??

you got a suggestion on what and why i am getting dimming on dash lights and headlights?

Used a cannon powershot A40 for the pics

thanks mick