89 TC: Upgrading Stock Grounds

[RJ Sclafani]

Hey everyone, this is my first time on the boards. This is also my first time owning a lincoln. Picked it up off my grandmother for $1200, 80,000 miles, all babied.

Now the Questions:

Has anyone upgraded their grounds? If so, which wires did you upgrade? I know to upgrade the battery and alternator, anything else I should be replacing as well? Also, after installing them, did you notice a difference? (i.e. no dimming in lights, etc..) Also, how do you get the bolt off the engine block, I've tried to take it off with a ratchet, but there isn't any room to turn the bolt. Also there is a wire loom running through that area with a "metal strap" looking thing on it hooking up to the bolt as well. any help on getting that off would be appreciated.

Thanks, RJ Sclafani

[ January 14, 2004: Message edited by: RJ Sclafani ]

[SQ_LSC]

Howdy neighbor! I don't know about the bolt, but here's the lowdown on the grounds. Most commonly refered to as "the big three": You got the alternator to battery and battery to body. Besides that, Engine block to body. It's usually at the back of the block heading for the firewall. I Usually do one more along the frame. If you look along the frame under the door sill, you'll find that strap. Those ground straps can be found on both sides, but just doing one will help tie it in.

I assume you have dimming from your question. What are you running for equipment?

[Nick]

For a mild system, I have found that an Optima battery can eliminate the dimming symptom.

[SQ_LSC]

Good point! The reason for the upgraded grounds is lowering resistance. The same can be done with batteries. Shop for batteries that have a low ESR for high current applications. You'll also want it to have a high storage capacity.

[RJ Sclafani]

Thanks for all the replies. They were all helpful to me. Currently i have no headunit (looking for a really good deal on some alpines), boston rc 5 1/4 components in the front & rear. But I'm thinking of changing that setup for some 6" JL woofers and just keep the neo3 tweeters. As for subs and amps, nothing, but looking into some JL 10's, and maybe also some jl amps to run the subs and components. Wiring is all 4, 8, and 16 guage Monster Cable, and monster RCA's. I'm pretty much starting from scratch again since local car theives keep taking my system(out of my integra)and this is my first install in the lincoln.

[RJ Sclafani]

Oh, also I don't have dimming of the lights, i just noticed a slight dimming, for instance: the driver door is open,and you hit the power door lock, the lights on the door will dim when you hit that. would bad grounding in the big 3 be the cause of this, or is there another aproach, like different grounds somewhere else on the car that I don't know about.

[SQ_LSC]

I kinda doubt that's a grounding problem. Door locks, windows, seats,...yada yada are pretty heavy loads when activated. They are probably sharing the same main feed wire which is probably a small enough wire that when the lock solenoid engages, the amperage is choked, causing a slightly lower voltage to the lamps. I wouldn't sweat it. If it truely bugs ya, then try upgrading that power feed.

[RJ Sclafani]

Thanks again for the input. It doesn't bother me, just curious, and I am a fanatic about my car.

[RJ Sclafani]

Hey, also I see you are running the pioneer permier HU. I was planning on getting that one, but havn't talked to anyone who had it.

Oh, and the battery tray. :eek: I love it.

[ January 14, 2004: Message edited by: RJ Sclafani ]

[SQ_LSC]

Thanks for the compliments on the tray, I have some other stuff I'm working on, I'll have some new stuff done in a few weeks. Did you check out the SUV on my homepage? The SUV is what I've been competing with. ;)

The particular model Premier unit that I have is NOT worth the money unless your doing the full bore combo with both the DEX and DEQ. I have both pieces so It justifies the cost. I think they should lower the price on the HU part and raise the price on the processor part. Then again,...they should lower the price on both parts! :D