PDA

View Full Version : engine ground mod



hendersachs
10-19-2006, 12:00 PM
does anyone know where the section on modifying the engine (grounds) is? has anyone done this? i saw it a while ago and never got around to doing it. what exactly are the results of doing such a mod?.... my Gt is automatic and shifts so wierd...will the mod make the trans shift crisper, when i want it to?? help me out.. oh by the way.. rally race this weekend in Houghton, MI, is anyone going?

Soul Shinobi
10-19-2006, 05:40 PM
Yes, I was just in here looking for topics on the same. On Legacy Central there are two great topics on it but the picture links are broken in BOTH topics there.

You can see another member's ground wires he put on in this SL-I topic:
http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=486
But the topic does not mention the mod.

Wiscon_Mark
10-19-2006, 06:20 PM
I made a thread about it a while ago...

I had pics and everything. I dunno where it went, but try searching for "grounding" and put my name in there too.

Soul Shinobi
10-19-2006, 07:20 PM
Okay, I found yours, Mark.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=688

also, I found these two:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=1400
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=1113

I think I'm going to get one of those $25 HKS grounding kits from eBay, unless someone has something bad to say about them. Anyone? Other recommendations perhaps?

EDIT: By the way, the HKS ones on eBay say they're for different car manufacturers, --EDIT2: if you look at the auction page they all say that these are universal.

Plays_with_Toys
10-19-2006, 11:18 PM
Look up the ground wire sets for the audi A4. There's one that has blue wires and the connector circle is black with a decal in the center. It looks more professional than the HKS knock off ones, and is the same price. I would go with one of those because it really does cost about that much to make your own unless you have a hook up on connectors.

Soul Shinobi
10-20-2006, 12:15 AM
Hmm. Poking around on eBay I discovered that the one you're talking about as well as all other ones with logos (except the HKS ones) have different logos photoshopped onto the stock picture. The HKS then in my opinion looks the least like BS, followed by the ones with no logo. It's just $25 and it's just metal and wires, it'd be pretty hard to mess this one up. Just don't expect any of these to last a terribly long time.

EDIT: Did some digging. HKS is a Japanese company that makes aftermarket car parts and also some aircraft related parts. I got that here:
http://wrightreports.ecnext.com/coms2/r ... _C392J9600 (http://wrightreports.ecnext.com/coms2/reportdesc_COMPANY_C392J9600)

EDIT2: On eBay beware of things that are labeled "JDM style." Beware of things that don't even give the name of the company that makes it. Beware of thing that the seller of which cannot describe well using the English language (or what ever language is native to the eBay branch you're using)(e.g. "Strong up the performance of the ignition system"). Beware of everything on eBay. Be very, very wary. HKS seems like the best call for this situation; that situation easy to install grounding kits that we don't want to pay a lot for.

Plays_with_Toys
10-20-2006, 09:46 AM
HKS is a well respected company, but most of the products on ebay are knock offs (hence they are so cheap). Real HKS ground kits are in the $90+ range.

I didn't realize that about the photoshops, but it does make sense. There are alot of people who suck at typing on ebay. I usually go by their feedback. If they are 98-99%, I usually trust what they have advertised. Also, you can compare to other products and check if the price is similar.

The wires should be fine in lasting. I know quite a few people running kits. That wire is quite durable, the only real factor is how the ends were pinched on.

Soul Shinobi
10-20-2006, 12:46 PM
Oh, okay, I didn't know HKS was actually well known. I'm generally very suspicious of anyone with feedback 98% positive or below. :grin: I do a fair amount of stuff on eBay and have heard too many bad things...

My thought on the durability of the kits is that if indeed the ends are pinched poorly, which is the only real concern, then they would be more prone to corrosion since they're not tight metal on metal (even if the heat shrink is done okay).

hendersachs
10-24-2006, 11:57 AM
so what exactly can a expect from such an alteration/ enhanced grounding?

Wiscon_Mark
10-24-2006, 12:53 PM
so what exactly can a expect from such an alteration/ enhanced grounding?

smoother idle, less "headlight dimming" syndrome when you turn on the A/C, and I experienced less "A/C lag" when cruising with the custom kit I made.

Nothing huge, you don't gain 10HP from it or anything, but it's a nice little mod to have.

Soul Shinobi
10-24-2006, 01:29 PM
Also, I would expect brisker, more assured winter starting.

Wiscon_Mark
10-24-2006, 01:35 PM
Also, I would expect brisker, more assured winter starting.

Very likely, I did notice better starting, although, I did my grounding kit in the summer, so I wasn't able to notice a definite difference.

rougeben83
10-25-2006, 06:08 PM
Brighter headlights, and less dimming when accesories are used (still dims a little bit though).

I'm not going to comment on any perceived performance difference because it's sometimes the placebo effect working there. :wink:

badbasser98
10-25-2006, 06:57 PM
I've seen and read a few threads on this. What are the main points to connect? Then are there any other "nice to have" but aren't needed persay?

Plays_with_Toys
10-25-2006, 10:53 PM
I connected from battery to engine block, from block up to the ground point on the intake manifold (right near the PCV/coil pack is a sensor ground), from there to the alternator, and from the block to the passenger side wall where another sensor is mounted near the ABS solenoid.

rougeben83
10-26-2006, 12:31 AM
I'm taking pics of the engine bay tomorrow because I'm asking someone over on NASIOC re: my turbo setup; I'll take pics of the grounding points I used on mine if it helps any.

It's basically a chain from the passenger side fender to the firewall, to the engine, to the battery and driver's fender.

badbasser98
10-26-2006, 08:11 AM
sweet, thanks :grin:

Wiscon_Mark
10-26-2006, 09:37 AM
Mine consisted of:

Both strut towers, two points on the body, the intake manifold, and the engine block.

rougeben83
10-26-2006, 06:53 PM
Here you go, basically traced the grounds coming from the driver's side and then added some wires to the passenger side to even out the ground.

Starting from the passenger side; strut tower to PS line holder (which connects to the block) to middle firewall bulkhead (right behind the airbox)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/10/HPIM0467-1.jpg


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/10/HPIM0468-2.jpg

From that firewall bulkhead, there's a lot of bolts to use as grounding points- one to intake manifold, one to firewall (which grounds transmission), to driver's fender, and a small wire to neg. battery cable.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/10/HPIM0471-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/10/HPIM0469-2.jpg

Yeah, need a new battery before winter too

:grin:

badbasser98
10-26-2006, 07:01 PM
Thanks :grin: