A few questions about engine bay grounds

ONLY for ADVANCED technical discussion about the 240sx!
User avatar
Jabberwocky
Posts: 159
Joined: Mon May 23, 2011 9:42 pm
Car: 08 Subaru WRX
Location: Taneytown, MD

Post

To start out I will say that my battery has been relocated to my trunk, and for the main engine grounds I have one from the block to the frame rail, one from the intake manifold to strut tower, one from the cylinder head to firewall, and one from the transmission to frame rail.

I have been searching around and reading about the proper way to ground electronics in the engine bay. I have found some good info, but have also found a good bit of information that contradicts what other people have said. Rather than have miscellaneous electronics grounded at different points all around the engine bay (which I believe can cause a ground loop?) I would like to clean up my wiring and ground everything to one location. So I am planning on cutting a 3" piece of 416SS bar stock .75" thick, drilling a hole through the center where it can bolt to the side of the block, and drilling/tapped 6 holes on a 2.5" bolt circle around the piece. I was thinking I could use this as a point to ground all of the electronics in the engine bay, such as my MSD box, fuel pressure sending unit, wideband o2 sensor, etc.

My questions are:

Am I grounding too many things to one location?
Is the engine block really the best place to ground everything?
Is it alright to ground my z32 MAF at this point along with everything else?

Let me know what you think of my idea, I wouldn't say I am well versed when it comes to electrical systems but I am not completely in the dark...just looking for a little feedback before I spend time making this grounding spot. Thanks in advance...


User avatar
Jmoore124
Posts: 278
Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2012 4:22 pm
Car: 1995 240sx Ka-t
2003 Saab Linear turbo conv
(Sold) 1989 S13 red top

Post

I prefer to have everything grounded to the negative side of the battery. Sounds like your overthinking it honestly. Make a small terminal box that you can run all your grounds into that allows you to connect to the lead from your battery. Still run a grounding strap or two, but your not getting your ground from the engine, you are getting your ground from the battery. Quickest, easiest route is less succeptable to failure and continuity issues.


Return to “240SX Technical Forum”