DIY Versa Grounding kit

[williamk10]

Since it looks like the grounding kit isn't going to be made available, I can't see why it can't be done as a DIY project. Excuse the red cable, as that was all I had lying around. I'll use black or some other dark colour when I make it for real.

The cable itself is easy to make. Cut the cable jacket half and inch back, slide the ring terminal in and either hammer it down, or solder it if you have a soldering iron. The only thing I need are more locations in the engine bay for ground. The one below was an obvious choice. It's been dark and cold outside so I haven't really given the engine bay a good look. Anyone have any ideas?







And FYI for Canadian Versa owners, this is where the enging block heater is

[Sentientbydesign]

The Versa Grounding kit never went into production because no noticeable gains were discovered.

[Reed19x]

Great job man! There's a guy who makes them by hand for the G37 community named "Black Betty". Look him up and see how he does it: Here's a link: http://www.myg37.com/forums/su....html

They aren't hard to do. You should consider making some up and selling them for 30 or 40 dollars...uh not sure what that would be Canadian (sorry, I'm not very cultured).

I understand no "substantial" gains were found, but I wonder if it helps with better shifting in the Automatics and perhaps even the CVT?

Once again, awesome job william!

[tata12001]

First,thanks so much.Second,did you change only one wire? And have you noticed any change in performance or shifiting ?

[Sentientbydesign]

Great job man! There's a guy who makes them by hand for the G37 community named "Black Betty". Look him up and see how he does it: Here's a link: http://www.myg37.com/forums/su....html

They aren't hard to do. You should consider making some up and selling them for 30 or 40 dollars...uh not sure what that would be Canadian (sorry, I'm not very cultured).

I understand no "substantial" gains were found, but I wonder if it helps with better shifting in the Automatics and perhaps even the CVT?

Once again, awesome job william!

Look at my signature. I sell grounding kits for the G35, 350Z, FX35/45, Altima...etc.

If anybody is interested in buying a grounding kit for your Versa, I can make them, the issue is whether there's any benefit.

It's in my interest to make and sell these, but I have a hard time selling something that doesn't make a difference.

[Rockhound]

The Versa Grounding kit never went into production because no noticeable gains were discovered.

Since you make these kits, I'm sure you know this, but it was my understanding that you only stand to gain from bolstering your car's ground if the original ground is weak, e.g. if the ground contacts are corroded and not very conductive.

I used to own a G20, and these kits were wildly popular on the (non-Nico) forum. They supposedly cured everything from idle smoothness to power window speed, not to mention paint scratches and receding hairlines (joke). They were especially popular with the first gen G20s.

I bought some heavy gauge cable and made my own "kit" for my 2002 G20, but didn't experience any noticeable gain, probably as the ground contacts were still fully intact on my not-very-old car. It may have started quicker, but there could have been a placebo effect going on, too.

I would think that these will be more popular as Versas get older in general.
Modified by Rockhound at 5:49 PM 5/11/2009

[superskunk]

Look at my signature. I sell grounding kits for the G35, 350Z, FX35/45, Altima...etc.

If anybody is interested in buying a grounding kit for your Versa, I can make them, the issue is whether there's any benefit.

It's in my interest to make and sell these, but I have a hard time selling something that doesn't make a difference.

well lets meet up sometime... we are planning a dyno day soon... so let me know when youre free...

[ZuZ]

can someone please explain what does the grounding kit do!?

[Sentientbydesign]

I have a great deal of interest from the S chassis guys for that reason you state. Old corroded grounds.

However, the kits I currently sell are for the newer vehicles and substantial gains can be had from them. Very often, HP is very minimally adjusted.

Throttle/transmission response is usually improved as is electronics functionality.

Sometimes exhaust tone and idle improve as well.

[ADOversa]

And FYI for Canadian Versa owners, this is where the enging block heater is <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.nicoclub.com/forums/image ... icon16.gif" BORDER="0">

1) I looked for over an hour and could not find it on mine. I had to have the service dept person show my where it was lol. It even took her a few minutes to locate on my car. Wish I had known about this site before that.2) Your car is the hotness.

[iluvmyVersa08]

What exactly does the 'engine block heater' do? (Sorry if it is a dumb question)

[Rockhound]

I have a great deal of interest from the S chassis guys for that reason you state. Old corroded grounds.

However, the kits I currently sell are for the newer vehicles and substantial gains can be had from them. Very often, HP is very minimally adjusted.

Throttle/transmission response is usually improved as is electronics functionality.

Sometimes exhaust tone and idle improve as well.

That's cool. My followup question was whether folks had experienced appreciable results from improving the ground on a new/ish car (other than the Versa).

For the minimal investment it sure seems like a no brainer - especially if you anticipate ground issues as the car ages, why not do some preventative maintenance? What I'm saying is that you've convinced me to do this to my cars this weekend.

What exactly does the 'engine block heater' do? (Sorry if it is a dumb question)

In very cold climates, engine block heaters are used to keep the engine relatively warm (and the oil inside) to improve the engine's ability to start.

[iluvmyVersa08]

In very cold climates, engine block heaters are used to keep the engine relatively warm (and the oil inside) to improve the engine's ability to start.

Thank you

[ADOversa]

Hey iluvmyVersa08... the block heater is there so you can plug your car in in the winter (can't remember what temperature they recommend you start plugging it in, its in the owners manual though) a few hours before you are going to start it up in the morning. I use a timer for mine. It just makes it easier on your engine . In places in northern ontario, and every city in manitoba that I've been to, alot of the hotels and such even have sockets out in the parking lots and the rental cars come with extension cords just for the block heaters!

[iluvmyVersa08]

Thanks ADOversa.My brother mentioned something about that and thought that my Versa didn't have it. So we do have it? So in the winter you plug your car in? I park in the garage so I don't really need to do this, but it's good to know about! Thanks for your help

[ADOversa]

No problem, and unless your garage is heated, I would still recommend plugging it in. On nights where it dips to -10 or lower we still plug our cars that are in the garage in, just to be safe.

And I beleive block heaters are standard on all canadian models. It is pretty hard to find though lol I had to get Lynn at Plaza to show me where mine was.

[iluvmyVersa08]

Thanks for the info. I'll tell my dad about it and ask him to show me how to use it. I have never had any problems starting her. Our garage is insulated so it doesn't get too bad in there. But I'll have to look and see where the block heater is in case I ever need to use it. You mentioned it was in the book? Does it tell you how long to plug it in and when? I'll take a look tomorrow to check it out. I think I need to book an oil change soon at Plaza, only 2 coupons left

[ADOversa]

Thanks for the info. I'll tell my dad about it and ask him to show me how to use it. I have never had any problems starting her. Our garage is insulated so it doesn't get too bad in there. But I'll have to look and see where the block heater is in case I ever need to use it. You mentioned it was in the book? Does it tell you how long to plug it in and when? I'll take a look tomorrow to check it out. I think I need to book an oil change soon at Plaza, only 2 coupons left

Yup sure does! I think it says 2 hours. Wow you still have some free ones left? I used my last one last week When last year did you buy your car? I bought mine at the end of July, picked it up at the very beginning of August. Have almost 22,000km on it now... can't beleive it . I was dating a girl thay had just moved to Hamilton, and all her family and alot of her friends were still in Guelph so in the first few months I was really putting the km's on it tripping about with her.

[iluvmyVersa08]

I have two coupons left. I purchased my car end of March, 2008 and picked it up April 2, 2008. I have less than 21,000 kms. The reason I have two left is because the last time I went (3rd oil change), I had my mom take the car in for me since I was working and I used her minivan. Well, Plaza kept telling her that the car would go in soon for its oil change. Well 2 hours later they took my car in and did the oil change. And I had an appointment. If my mom had known it would have been that long of a wait she would have had them drive her home but one of the girls there kept informing my mom that it would just be a little while longer. So since it was such a long wait and such an inconvenience they gave my mom the coupon back and didn't charge her for the last oil change! I thought that was very nice of them. So that is why I have two coupons left.