Mick,

Good to see it's not just me noticing no difference at all! I reckon it's a case of mass hysteria and snake oil

RE: Dimming lights; I know nothing about ICE, but have you tried fitting a "big" capacitor to solve you light dimming problems? Probably best off posting on the ICE section - I'm sure it's a common problem,

Andy

[Edited by scrappydog - 11/17/2002 5:11:00 PM]

 

Good electrical connections, be they earth/ground or feed, are essential for smooth operation of those items needing an electrical supply. As cars age, those connections can become loose, worh, chaffed, contaminated or corroded and eventually fail completely.

A relative had some work done on her car recently and the technicians replaced one of the earth connections on a different part of the engine. Soon after collecting her repaired car, she drove straight round to me and asked my opinion. In addition to indifferent engine running, her instruments were reading all over the place .... VERY worrying... As soon as I opened the bonnet I chanced to see the different earth strap location. Putting it back to the correct location, after cleaning up the contact and terminal areas to ensure a good connection, transformed the car back to it's original smooth running mode ... not magic, but, beware professionals at work ... they don't always get it right.

Even if your car is running reasonably well, an occasional systematic check and clean up of all electrical connections, particularly those less accessible ones, can restore those smooth running "new car" features we all prefer ...

 

more engine earth ideas, this time from the EVO guys. Looking at the web page of the PUMA EVO 7 track car (group N japaneese championship), I saw a new Ralliart product which basically adds three more earth points on the EVO 7 (same for previous models).





interesting to see that both coil packs get a earth point ..... more information here (although in japaneese ):

http://www.test-service.co.jp/paddock/earth.htm

Carlos H.

 

mick,
this is a common fault, my friends car does it,my old metro turbo did it(many moons ago hehehehe).
the amp drains the battery quite quickly i think,have a word with an audio specialist on that one,,

sorry to learn some of you havent gained anything
at least it was worth a try and it shouldnt have cost to much to do,but most people that have done it have noticed a difference.

roy

 

Just read this page,
Can you email me pics as well please
Sounds like a mod I cant afford not to do
Cheers
Big Daz

 

big daz,,
i havent got yer e-mail address in your info box,,,,
e-mail me and i will send you some pics,

buzzerboyroy@btinternet.com

 

Right Guys - I am confused .....

I have just been to my local car audio shop to buy some decent cable for the job, and I just mentioned what it was for. In the end the chap at the audio place says that this would create more electro magnetic fields round the engine bay, and if he saw a car with them on he would wonder why and remove them.....

What does everyone else think on this ?? I am no car electrician, but i know a few bits, and this is over my head .....

HELP....

Cheers
Nick

 

Guys

I am not very familiar with the different types of cables being used by people here for this grounding mod.

So, what sort of cables should I get for this mod?

Sorry, I am not really into these electronic stuff but am into cheap mods.

Vic.

[Edited by silver_wrex - 11/19/2002 3:31:59 PM]

 

Nick,

He's talking what is colloquially known as "****e" - a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Multiple earthing points can indeed cause ground loops, however this is all being wired back to a single point to improve the grounding on parts that aren't all that well grounded as it turns out.

It works, apparently. Dunno why it has such a profound effect: perhaps it's because the Subaru earthing is "adequate" rather than "over the top"?

Nick.

 

Scrappydog
Just checked in and noticed your reply....
It's been a week now since I added the cables, used the car every day since and 'I sh*t you not' my clutch judder that was getting right on my t*ts has almost gone!!!!!!

 

Just to add to this:
Just did my own earth mod too. Halfords couldn't find their bums with both hands in the end so I just bought a load of Audio bits (HAH! GOLD connectors!!!) and did it. And OMG!
Nothing too startling at first.....until you realise driving the car in traffic is nowhere near the pig it used to be!
Electric windows are faster, headlights brighter, stereo doesn't fade out at high volumes, car starts a little better, idles smoother, doesn't hunt rpms when cold.

I think I have worked out where Subaru's problem is, too. They earth the engine (bracket on the starter motor) and then another small lead to the chassis next to the headlamp. I cleaned up the earth contact on the starter motor, but left it standard. Replaced the earth from the slam panel with an 8AWG one, and filed back the paint for a good contact. I felt the slam panel itself was not really very well connected to the chassis, so earthed the top of the drivers side suspension turret with some 4AWG...THIS is the baby that seemed to make the difference. I suspect that the slam-panel isn't particularly well electronically connected to the rest of the chassis. I also took an 8AWG eath to the inlet manfold, though I suspect there are better places for this one (altrernator? nearer to coil packs?)

Trouble is, it's addictive....I keep seeing places to add an earth strap....
Thanks for the post, Roy.

 

So how much do you recon it cost you?
A bit less than the £130+ kit from HKS maybe!!!

 

no probs steve,i am glad its worked for you!!!!!!!!!!!
i just need to do it myself on my new car i bought from PAUL the other week.

 

I just like to say I thought this idea would be a lot of crap! But as I am a electrician and had some 6mm low smoke single and lots of crimps I spent half an hour of my time installing it, I found out it's not crap it made lot of difference.
Thank for showing me how to do this small mod.
Clint.

 

My 5 point system has improved everything including a problem with my sister and her husband, oh, and my garden fence is straighter now as well.

Thanks, this mod really rocks.

F
PS Do you think it will cure my piles?

 

My effort:



It's a 6 point one:
Both strut towers
Engine block
Left and right side of the inlet manifold
ECU chassis (inside the car)

Tony.

 

Floyd, yes, and it'll make you instantly more attractive to the opposite sex.

I've only done one (yes one) point - the earth between the battery and the chassis, which is currently around 10AWG. Result? The car starts *every time* with one less turn on the starter motor, stereo sounds cleaner. Some hesitation when cold is still there. I'll add another couple of points and keep you informed.

 

Chiark, you're right about the girls. I keep getting flagged down and them saying:

"Hey big boy, pop your hood so I can see what you've got" "Ooh yes, just as I thought your mod is so long and thick" "Go on, turn it over one more time you bad, bad man"

F

 

cant believe this thead is still going strong.
i really must do it to my new car as it has a slight hesitation fault that the earth may be the problem.
revised car pics on the way.

 

I added 3 earth wires to my 99 turbo last night. It felt a lot smoother afterwards especially in the lower gears.

Another satisfied customer!!!

Stuart