Replaced Engine Ground Strap *Writeup* Lots of picks!!

[Jmila1901]

Writeup in progress...Not done yet

Well today i replaced the crappy ground strap that grounds the engine to the frame... It really wasn't that hard but i decided to make a writeup just in case anyone needs any tips while they go at it

I picked up an 18inch piece of 2guage marine cable at my local West Marine. It was priced at 8 bucks, which is really all this mod cost me!

Here are all the tools i used to swap out the cable!


To help with clearance to the engine side of the cable i disconnected the MAP sensor tubes...


I also removed the CCV Orfice tube...


Picture of the area with both tubes removed...


The top bolt is a 5/8


This bottom bolt is an 11/16


Comparison between old and new!


Way thicker!


When your done installing the cable, reinstall the pipes on reverse order!

According to the but dino the Jeep picks up a little quicker and it also charges a bit better, or it just might be the load of wd40 i sprayed all over the alternator lol....

Coming soon... battery cable upgrade!!!

[XJohnnyC]

Hmmm...a writeup and pics for undoing one bolt and one nut. J/K...

I put in a short battery cable, which is even less than $8.

[Jmila1901]

Lol yeah i know, ive been wanting to do it forever! Im just afraid of doing any sort of electrical work! Their was two inches to move my ratchet around so that really sucked, its what kept me from going at it in the first place!

[XJohnnyC]

This is actually one mod that everyone should do. The braided strap deteriorates over time, which results in a poor ground. Some dash and cluster problems can be attributed to a bad strap.

[Timo_90xj]

Sounds about right, charging might improve and also might be easier to start etc..


After upgrading my battery to an Optima yellow top 75A unit (I had a Mopar ??amp batt.) and all alternator-, starter- and ground cables in the engine bay, there is a clear difference on how my starter turns and what my voltmeter reads.

Even though I still have my alt. that has seen lots of deep mud/ gunk/ water (literally submerged in muddy water many many times) and under hard acceleration makes a sound that really reminds me of a supercharger, my voltage meter has much better readings on idle/ under higher revs. And the weird very low idle is mostly gone too (my engine used to idle at around 400-500rpm, sometimes even lower).


I replaced all cables with (a lot) thicker stuff, bought weld- type connectors -> means I welded all the cables to the connectors rather than press- fitting them. Much better. Cost me ~40€ (~55$) and about two hours of time. It was well worth it.

[Jeepernick]

What does that cable do?

noob

[Jmila1901]

Originally Posted by Jeepernick

What does that cable do?

noob

It grounds the flux capacitor!!!

[KamekLocked]

There is a reason the ground strap there is braided: #1) It flexes a lot more than stranded wire. #2) It dampens out some radio-frequency interference that can be easily transmitted though stranded wire...Just a little bit of tech. behind it thats my $0.02.

[Timo_90xj]

Originally Posted by Jeepernick

What does that cable do?

noob

On my '90, the ground cable runs from battery to the engine block. On the engine block connection (close to oil pressure sensor) there is a bunch of thin wires going to all sorts of locations. But the "major" ground cable from the engine block to the chassis is the one on the original posters' pic, at the back of the engine.

If that cable is in bad condition, you get all sorts of weird electrical problems.

edit: damn, I was too slow.

[Timo_90xj]

Originally Posted by KamekLocked

There is a reason the ground strap there is braided: #1) It flexes a lot more than stranded wire. #2) It dampens out some radio-frequency interference that can be easily transmitted though stranded wire...Just a little bit of tech. behind it thats my $0.02.

True.

Although you can get high- flex thick (round) copper wire, you are still going to have the problem with radio frequency interference. I don't know how much problems it can create in real life, but considering the sensitive nature of modern computer- controlled engines I'd say you might run into trouble.

Especially so because a gasoline engine is a source of LOTS of radio freq. radiation (alternator being one of the main sources).

[Jeepernick]

yes I understand that, and I know what the reason for ground wires are.......

I just want to know what that cable does and the reason you are replacing it.

what will it help and why?

someone already said why though.

I think I will do this because my jeep is a slow starter

Thanks for the write up

[Jmila1901]

So balloo... Sticky worthy?!?!?!

[Timo_90xj]

If you're having "general electrical problems", I'd start by changing the ground cables.


Like I wrote, it helped on my bad idle, low idle charging and a bunch of other smaller problems. Good grounding is one of the most important things on an electrical system -> bad ground can cause a lot of headache..

[KamekLocked]

^^Yeah bad grounds can cause a lot of wierd problems. Seen it quite a lot.

[JBassXJ]

hmm... maybe that could help my airbag light from going off while driving and killing my my cluster guages... (when the light comes on they all go to zero.... until I bang the underside and they all come back. )