[tvl76]

I've had, and still have some electrical and gauge problems. To check for proper grounds, I temporarily connected a length of wire to my battery ground terminal and then touched the opposite end to my ground points.
The problems I was hoping to solve are still unsolved. But I did notice, that my dash and exterior lights would brighten with the ground wire direct to the battery.
Now I want to connect a permanent ground wire between my battery and a point on my firewall.

What do ya all think ? Good or bad idea ?

[Geer_hed]

It won't hurt anything, but if your gauges brighten when you re-enforce the ground, then your dash ground is not so great. That little ground strap right below the light switch on the inside of the dash. Try adding a good ground strap to the dash and ground it out better, see if you don't get the same results.

Of course, it's possible there's a charging problem which would be particularly exaggerated by the dash illumination fluctuating. of course, the purist thing to do is clean or replace all of your grounds, but what a PITA...

[tvl76]

I was experimenting with all this, without the moter running. So how can it show a charging problem ?

[kaptainkarst]

quickest way is to put a volt meter on the battery with the motor off. Note the voltage (should be between 12 and 13 volts for a charged battery)


Start the Jeep and check the voltage again. Is it higher (14 - 15 volts or so)?

[MudMonster]

ive got a ground to my block (which also grounds to the frame) and to my firewall

[alabamabuddog]

There should be a ground strap from the battery to the body and from the engine block to the body. This will make a big differance when its off. When mine is broken I can see the volt meter act up when the blinkers are on.

[Scrambler82]

GREAT IDEA to add an additional ground system or just replace the existing ground system with a new one !
Grounding has to be one of the biggest older vehicle problems there is.

Either add new ground straps at all points or run a heavy gauges fine stranded wire along on side of the vehicle, inside preferably. Add a some terminal blocks along the length of the ground wire and then connect all of your electrical grounds to these terminal blocks.

Remember that every thing electrical need a (+) positive and (-) negative ( ground) in order to work properly, so the better the path the better the electrical component will perform.
Use a small amount of Conductive Electrical Paste, you can get it at an electrical store, and add it to all of your ground connections, not too much though.

If you stick to adding ground straps, make sure you have bare metal before attaching the ground straps and use a little of the Paste on the connections.
Another thing to help with the contact is to use external tooth lock washers above and below the ground lugs.

Later,