Making my own ground kit.

[nadcicle]

Well i finally decided to go out and get me some connectors to be able to make my own ground kit.

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/6880/dscf0448mediumhx0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I had some 8 gauge power wire leftover from yanking it out of an audio install and replacing it with 0 gauge. So i decided "eh hell with it imma make my own ground kit". It's ton's cheaper and i would like to keep stuff blue under the hood and the wire is blue.

On a further note i would like to change my spark plugs and wires as well. I've done research and see alot of people here do indeed like the NGK iridium's, but my question is about the wires that come with this package here http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HYUNDAI-ELANTRA-RACE-SPARK-WIRES-NGK-IRIDIUM-PLUGS-BLUE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33692QQihZ015QQite mZ250206181231QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Will they be ok or has anyone had any problems with them or anything?

[theWorst]

i dont like those thin ring connectors.. they bend too easy...

if u are going to use those, i recommend making a ground buss so you dont have to pile 'em together and risk bending them when disconnecting the battery

[nadcicle]

i dont like those thin ring connectors.. they bend too easy...

if u are going to use those, i recommend making a ground buss so you dont have to pile 'em together and risk bending them when disconnecting the battery

Already taken care of. I have both top and side post with the optima. So there's no need to worry about any bending :)

[PSUsouthpaw]

Go for it. I bought the same set of plugs and wires and they have treated me pretty well thus far.

[Ugzz]

i had those connectors come loose on install 1. After that i actually took a hammer to crimp them... never came out again.. Ever heh.

[nadcicle]

Go for it. I bought the same set of plugs and wires and they have treated me pretty well thus far.

Thank you thats what i needed to know. I like that they're blue for one, but i just didn't know if the thicker wire was going to cause a resistance problem. I've had it happen to me on another car before with some off brand wires for an eclipse, but i shall go ahead and order them for the 30k tune up. Getting low gas mileage so imma do what i can to try and fix it. You know: spark plugs, wires, ground wire kit, fuel filter in tank, put on SRI already.

[KeWLKaT]

Offtopic, but you should really not do fuel filter for 30k, it's very, very useless. I did mine at around 70k.

[nadcicle]

Offtopic, but you should really not do fuel filter for 30k, it's very, very useless. I did mine at around 70k.

It's quite alright. It's still however maintenance & care so you're still on topic somehow. I thank you and advice taken. Will hold off until at LEAST 60k in that case.

[Mobius1]

I have the same plugs and wires. You might even be able to see them in one of the pictures of my car in the garage. Its good stuff never had a problem.

[nadcicle]

OK Update: I went ahead and did the ground kit today. Now i don't want you guys laughing thinking that i have to many links... or my engine is completely dirty. I do want to know though if you think i might have these in "OK" spots. Oh, and yes that is 0/1 gauge you see if you're wondering. Well here goes :)

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2007/dscf0457mediumcm1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/6307/dscf0458mediumlq1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/3803/dscf0459mediumgr4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7643/dscf0460mediummt4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here it is with the car off

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4295/dscf0461mediumah5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/1059/dscf0462mediumwg5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And with the car on

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/1390/dscf0463mediumam0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/2189/dscf0464mediumfr8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

GRrr i screwed something up.. Can a mod help me out here and delete the extra pics... sorry im used to the max pics being 5 so it counted as a doublepost.. Imma dumb@## go ahead and say it lol

[Pete03GLS]

while i havent done my own kit yet, to me it does kinda seem like u have ALOT of wires there, but obv idk if thats bad or not, just the first thought that came to mind.

i mean it looks good to me, lets c wat others have to say.

[bdiggy]

It does look to be a bit of overkill. I did mine yesterday and only did 4 wires. It was enough to keep my system from dimming my head lights and level off my throttle response. It used to bog at lower RPM's but is now steady through each gear.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/bdiggy5778/IMG_0644.jpg

[BColeman]

^ One suggestion.

Add one more ground wire to one of the bolts that attaches your ignition coil packs to the block. I am a firm believer that this is one of the most necessary ones to do. You can add it inline with the 2 you've got done on the front of the block at the metal loop that sticks up.

[bdiggy]

So what, just loop a shorty over the corner of the block from the engine cover mount?

[BColeman]

yep.

You can see the bolt sticking out in your picture where you want it to be placed.

Look just past the end of the exhaust cam gear cover on the right, you'll see a greyish bolt sticking out between that and the ignition coil pack. That's where you want it to go.

[bdiggy]

Cool. Hell, that one will be easy.

[BColeman]

Yep, very easy. When I had my grounding kit (which I should have kept on, and will probably re-do here very soon), I ran to 5 grounding points, all from the negative terminal of the battery. But it really doesn't matter where you go. As long as they are chassis ground somehow, that's what really counts.

[Pete03GLS]

hey bryan, where did u get your wires, and what gauge? ill buy however many i need and do one too, can u give me a list of what i need, how much of it, and where i can get it? pm me, so we dont clutter his thread :D

[nadcicle]

Well in case you were wondering. I don't have any bog when letting off the gas on revving, and gears shift ALOT smoother than before. I am now a firm believer that ground kits do help now. BTW for the ones thinking i may have went overkill i would like to reiterate that i am using 0/1 gauge there for a reason: Sound system. I figured id do a couple extra for that fact. I do appreciate the feedback either way though.

[Tommy]

i question why so many grounds to things that arent electrical. And the fact that you didnt remove the paint from the points you grounded too...

[seanski]

this is kinda a n00b question, but what is the point of having more grounds? i dont really see the advantage... :tongue:

[Ugzz]

you didnt remove the paint from the points you grounded too...

good eye, i didnt catch that.

i always slap a wire brush cleaning end or grinding end on a drill and hit any spot im grounding to before hand. works wonders. but on the other hand you have enough points im sure some are solid enough :P

and the point of upgrading the ground is well.. just that. it makes the electrical current much smoother when its well grounded. some out there say improvement is the placebo effect, but ive known enough people that swear by it to believe.

its on my list, but wire is $$ right now and until i can get some cheap its on the waiting list.

*oh yeah and the alt case is considered one of the best grounds too, and since the battery is not already grounded out there, its a good add


do web search on "the big 3" for more info, theres a ton of "big three" stuff out ther e:P

[Pete03GLS]

here u go. this is where bdiggy told me to buy from.

http://stores.ebay.com/Car-Audio-And-More_Wire_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ165328018QQftidZ2 QQtZkm

u get alot, for cheap. i bought like 20 feet of the 8 gauge, just because, and couple feet of 4 gauge.

[nadcicle]

i question why so many grounds to things that arent electrical. And the fact that you didnt remove the paint from the points you grounded too...

All but 2 of those were factory ground spots and btw.. this stuff here also works wonders.

http://www.autoaccessconnect.com/dielcogr.html

[KeWLKaT]

All but 2 of those were factory ground spots and btw.. this stuff here also works wonders.

http://www.autoaccessconnect.com/dielcogr.html

You DO know what DIELECTRIC means right? Unless you are talking about sanding the paint, then putting the connector, tightening it, and THEN applying grease.

[Tommy]

^yea, thats what im kinda wondering. Why use something that supposed to insulate on something your attempting to create a better connection...

callin BS and its all a placebo effect. Ive done ground upgrades on older cars with degraded crappy grounds, and yes, it helped with electrical power output, ie my headlights and interior lights were brighter, and i experienced less audio noise in the stereo, but as far as power increase? someone's been reading too many ebay ads.

[KeWLKaT]

Yeah, the power increase is definitely just a bit too out there.

[bdiggy]

Who claimed power increase? If you're talking to me, I didn't claim there was any increase. There is, however, a smoother acceleration through the RPM's in each gear now. If I shift at 2k, before the car was bogged down until the needle hit 3k. Then you could feel a little kick like the throttle was all of a sudden paying attention to the pressure being applied.

All I was trying to say is that there is no more jolt in there, it's a smooth climb up the RPM's.

[KeWLKaT]

Yeah well that's just placebo. There is no way in hell it could do anything to improve anything related to the ECU mapping.

[bdiggy]

Maybe it was just the fact that the ECU was reset because I had the negative terminal disconnected and it needs to catch back up with itself, whatever. As long as I feel it has helped i'm happy.

[KeWLKaT]

Maybe it was just the fact that the ECU was reset

I think you hit it right on the head, lol. I'm pretty sure that's the reason ;)

[bdiggy]

Yeah, it's all good. It did take care of my main issue which was to keep the head lights from dimming with the bass.

[nadcicle]

I did not mean to steer anybody in the wrong direction. I just feel a difference in my shifting through gears mostly. Not saying that i get any extra voltage or anything. Furthermore, i did take a metal filer and go at the spot right where the screw was. No need for sandpaper to make all the paint around the connection point look worse. The grease was only to stop corrosion is all for the folks worried about the cheap wanna be copper turning to rust in a matter of a couple weeks.

As far as horsepower or torque.. thats a toss up really. I really dunno. I can't say that i really "feel" any difference, but i assume thats because theres not telling much between 130 and 132 if you get my drift. Maybe there is maybe there isn't, but i can tell you for sure i do in fact feel the transmission shifting difference.

I'm not even saying that my car has 130hp btw its just a guestimation is all. I will never tell the difference in 2 or 3 hp. Thats just my opinion. Then again i'm not a professional when it comes to these things. That's why i'm here to learn more from others.

From my understanding, every little bit helps where you can afford it. For me i guess my next thing to do is the starter, alternator, and main ground upgrade. I believe its called the BIG 3 or whatever like someone else stated. Only thing is i've read elsewhere that using 0/1 gauge isnt a good idea when doing this. Soooo i guess 4 gauge?

[RotaMan99]

I hate looking at grounding kits installed on engines because out of 8 wires being bolted on, only 1 will be worth anything.

You need to find out where the grounding points for the harness' are and ground near there. I don't know if the coils ground through their housing but one ground cable from the coils would work as well but using a million cables all over the engine is usless.

Get rid of the cable going over the valve cover. You don't need it, especially the one that goes from the drivers side to the passenger side of the block. Also get rid of the other 2 ground cables going to the firewall. Usually there is one cable going from the block to the firewall on some vehicals. You don't need all those cables especially that thick. You should have ohm'ed out the grounding points to find out what may need to be regrounded first.

i question why so many grounds to things that arent electrical.

I couldn't say it better my self. Its good to clean up the oem grounding points and add maybe one or two extra grounds to help out but not 10 more cables that do nothing.

Also, a better thing would also be to get down to the ECU and reground the ground wires on that.

I just feel a difference in my shifting through gears mostly
This would not be do to the spider you installed :)

No need for sandpaper to make all the paint around the connection point look worse.
sand paper would make a cleaner area. You don't have to sand on the paint. If you have some motor skills you can do a small area ;)

[BColeman]

Keep in mind guys, those in this thread that said they felt smoother shifts have AUTOMATICS. Therefore, extra grounds for the electrical system could in fact assist in smoother shifts. Sounds funny, I know, but when an Automatic Tranny is controlled by a Computer, which is electrical, a couple of grounds can make a difference.


Also, Alternator, Starter, Battery, Ignition Coil Packs. Those are the main ones to do. When I had mine, I added one to the top of the block to the firewall behind the Intake Manifold. For looks, maybe, for grounding help, maybe. Seeing how the Igntion Coil packs are bolted to the head, it seems like a good idea to add one to the head, just for being there.

[bdiggy]

I got the coil pack ground done yesterday. Took about 5 min to measure, cut and install. I'd like to get another cold morning in to see if it helps with the hard starts at all.

[BColeman]

Not that anyone really does this, but another thing to help with cold starts, especially in the winter, is to make sure everything is turned off before you shut off your car, like the heater, radio, any accessories, headlights, etc.

I know a lot of people leave the headlight switch on, and their radio. But the less draw of electrical power on startup possible, the better the start up is. Not only did the grounding kit help me last year (before I removed it), but I also removed my rear motor mount and filled it. And believe it or not, the car started right up, with only one turn over, versus 3 or 4. Without the grounding wires, and of course, a year of wear and tear on the filled motor mount, the car is back to cranking over after 3 or 4 turns or so. But in the beginning, it was like a miracle had been bestowed upon my car.

[bdiggy]

Hmm, yeah, the radio is one I never think to turn off. Always turn it down, but never off.

[Pete03GLS]

ahh, good point, i always make sure to turn everything off, lights, heater, but i dont turn off my radio, i will from now on tho.

[RotaMan99]

Keep in mind guys, those in this thread that said they felt smoother shifts have AUTOMATICS. Therefore, extra grounds for the electrical system could in fact assist in smoother shifts. Sounds funny, I know, but when an Automatic Tranny is controlled by a Computer, which is electrical, a couple of grounds can make a difference.


resetting the ECU could also do this as well or they just never paid close attention to how the car shifted before and they are now and THINK it shifts smoother.

Yes adding A ground is good but not a spider of grounds.

Also, Alternator, Starter, Battery, Ignition Coil Packs. Those are the main ones to do. When I had mine, I added one to the top of the block to the firewall behind the Intake Manifold. For looks, maybe, for grounding help, maybe. Seeing how the Igntion Coil packs are bolted to the head, it seems like a good idea to add one to the head, just for being there.

The alternator and starter are grounded through the block so adding ONE ground to the block will do just fine. Besides, usually the ground from the battery goes straight to the starter anyways. I havn't looked to see if ours does or not. Adding an extra ground will be stupid when you could just upgrade the ground wire or clean the connection.

There is no need to add a ground straight to the alternator or another one (if there is already one) to the starter. Battery? Ground the battery?

coil packs may be a good thing to do but not with 8 or 4 gage wire. 10awg BLACK wire will be enough.

did you just say you added a ground wire for looks and MAYBE grounding help?:confused:

Not that anyone really does this, but another thing to help with cold starts, especially in the winter, is to make sure everything is turned off before you shut off your car, like the heater, radio, any accessories, headlights, etc.

I know a lot of people leave the headlight switch on, and their radio. But the less draw of electrical power on startup possible, the better the start up is. Not only did the grounding kit help me last year (before I removed it), but I also removed my rear motor mount and filled it. And believe it or not, the car started right up, with only one turn over, versus 3 or 4. Without the grounding wires, and of course, a year of wear and tear on the filled motor mount, the car is back to cranking over after 3 or 4 turns or so. But in the beginning, it was like a miracle had been bestowed upon my car.

Having the engine turn over 3 or 4 times is NORMAL and not bad. Turning off everything before starting cold you is rediculous too. When you go to start the car, almost EVERYTHING is running in the ACC or ON position NOT the START position so everything already turns off when you go to start the car.

I hope your not saying that a filled motor mount (which I hope you used the right stuff) made your engine start easier? :rolleyes:

[bdiggy]

^^You're an awfully opinionated prick aren't you? I don't care what you say about not knowing what my car previously ran like. I drive 40 miles a day round trip to and from work and I think I can tell when something in the ride has changed. You don't want to believe that's fine. But for those of us that do, leave it alone pal.

[nadcicle]

resetting the ECU could also do this as well or they just never paid close attention to how the car shifted before and they are now and THINK it shifts smoother.

Yes adding A ground is good but not a spider of grounds.



You seem like you got all your facts together. So how is your ground kit wired? You have any pics? I've never dealt with a professional so well taught in the area of ground kit installs. No offense, but you seem to debunk every single opinion with an assumption of your own. I want you to prove me and every one else wrong by hearing you say that you have tried your own ground kit and done scientific tests and thus proved beyond a reasonable doubt that ground kits just do not help at all. You've noticed that i have used the word "feel" when i say shifted smoother and such.

One thing i MUST note is that i NEVER.. I repeat NEVER reset my ecu in my car, because i have my spare battery in the trunk still feeding power even when my ground was disconnected from the battery up front. However, maybe if i reset my ecu it may help more or less. I am also reminding again that in any circumstances i am not a trained professional. Would anybody else that has a ground kit at least say if it has NOT helped them in any way? I may be wrong and i am just thinking i may have the placebo effect.

When im bumping my amp in the trunk throwing 1500 watts to the subs i sure notice a difference between having the kit and not having the kit. Then again maybe the 1 ground wire may have helped, but maybe 2 would make it better. Either way hows it hurt anything if i have plenty of ground points instead of just a couple.

Upon further review it has come to my attention that the bolt I used at the coil pack was indeed another factory ground for grounding the coil pack. So the only "unneeded" ground really was just the front engine lift bolt. All the others were factory grounded to begin with. So to much. Maybe yes Maybe No.

Lol bdiggy beat me too it....

[RotaMan99]

Factory grounds eh? I Don't know about you but when I pop my hood I don't see ground wires spidering all over the place, especially up over the valve cover and across the front of the block wraped around other wires LOL.. Can you honestly tell me that adding two grounds to the block 2 feet apart is going to be any better than one ground on the block? Let me answer that for you... NO. Will the resistance drop? Maybe by a .001 or .0001 ohm. Besides, it look slike you didn't clean the paint of most surfaces either. Did you clean the threads on the bolts and in the block?

The one you mentioned on the coils, thats fine. I have yet to take a close look at them to see if they actually ground through their housing. Maybe they do since most do. The two branching off the coils...well you can remove those.

Its all about electrical resistance my friend and there is very little resistance through the block or chassis. Its at the connection points where most of the resistance comes from as well as the small gage and length of wire the factory uses.

I am in no way saying that adding grounds will do nothing. Its very popular to reground the harness in my other car. You realize what I said right? Harness. The factory like using small wires so they can hide them out of the way easily. There is no problem upgrading the wires or adding one or two more grounds in the right places to help out. A spider of grounds in all the same places is doing you nothing but making you look RICE!

I have not installed ground KITS because the KITS are more usless then if you run your own wires to the right places. I notice a difference adding ground wires on my other car but you think they are 8-4 awg blue wire running all over the place? Nope. Only in specific areas.

Go ahead and disconnect the one over the valve cover and the one across the front of the block and let me know if you FEEL or SEE a difference in how the car runs... go ahead, really please!:rolleyes:

You're an awfully opinionated prick aren't you

Yes I am ;):D

There is a lot of myths out there about a lot of things such as running ground wires all over the place. You need to know where to run them and at what points to connect them to.

Personally, I don't like coming across like this. Its just the fact that most of you are very thick headed and your way is THE way or no way. Then someone with more experience comes along and you don't want to even think about the possibility of whatever you may have done is not doing anything or it could have been better this way or that. So I appologize for being this way.

I have seen quite a few very knowledgable members on here and I am in no way a pro at the elantra. The principles of electricity or airflow or the alternator etc are all the same on every motor though.

[silversharkXD2]

I say, if you have that much knowledge on the issue...do a how to with all your suggestions...just a thought

[nadcicle]

I say, if you have that much knowledge on the issue...do a how to with all your suggestions...just a thought

How is he going to do that if he has not even installed a ground kit and found out the difference. I see nothing more than an assumption from that dude. Oh well.. So much for facts Vs. opinions. Whether or not its a spider or not the truth remains the same. I have already admitted that i have indeed added a grounding point in ONE unneeded spot. The others were all factory grounded to begin with. All i did was upgrade the wiring. Next thing you know he might even argue that copper is less conductive than gold and tell me its useless because i have to have platinum spark plugs to see an ohm resistance difference or something.

[RotaMan99]

I say, if you have that much knowledge on the issue...do a how to with all your suggestions...just a thought

Its a waste of time. Looking at what people already do, why would one of my howtos make them change their mind?

How is he going to do that if he has not even installed a ground kit and found out the difference

YOU sir need to READ!

Why the **** would I BUY a pre-made grounding KIT and install it when I can make my own and have it ground the areas that NEED to have extra grounding. YES I have installed ground wires and YES I have noticed a difference and NO I did not have a spider of wires going all over the place like yours because I actually did some testing unlike you that just had all asumptions on where to ground..... Who has the assumptions?

I see nothing more than an assumption from that dude.

I know electricity unlike you obveously. Im not assuming anything. PLEASE REMOVE THOSE TWO WIRES AND FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF!

Oh well.. So much for facts Vs. opinions.
Ya so much for that when you don't want to be proven wrong by removing the wires I told you, you don't need... lol

I have already admitted that i have indeed added a grounding point in ONE unneeded spot

O really? Try about 3 spots. How do YOU know its needed everywhere else? NEEDED! Not ASSUMED. You just upgraded the wiring? Did Hyundai have wires going over the valve cover? LMFAO!

Next thing you know he might even argue that copper is less conductive than gold and tell me its useless because i have to have platinum spark plugs to see an ohm resistance difference or something.

This is funny. I was not even going to go that direction. What does platinum spark plugs have anything to do with ground wires?:confused:

Hell you could ground with aluminum wire or even copper wire that is TINNED for better weather resistance even though the TINNING has more resistance than plain copper, it will still work plenty fine.

[bdiggy]

Its a waste of time. Looking at what people already do, why would one of my howtos make them change their mind?

YOU sir need to READ!

Why the **** would I BUY a pre-made grounding KIT and install it when I can make my own and have it ground the areas that NEED to have extra grounding.

First off, people may listen to a how to if you didn't come in here like some kind of raging asshole saying their set up is worthless and ricey. Why the hell do you even care? As long as it's not hurting his engine and he likes it, let it go.

Second, he didn't buy a pre-made kit either. It's left over audio wire that he put to good use.

For all I know maybe you do have some good points, but i'm not going to come in here and try to read between the parts where you treat everyone else like they're retarded.

[RotaMan99]

Second, he didn't buy a pre-made kit either. It's left over audio wire that he put to good use.

The blue audio wire was the big give away. It is very clear its not a premade kit.

First off, people may listen to a how to if you didn't come in here like some kind of raging asshole saying their set up is worthless and ricey. Why the hell do you even care? As long as it's not hurting his engine and he likes it, let it go.

Don't be putting words into my mouth. I never said his setup was worthless. Some of the wires are a bit ricey.

[silversharkXD2]

First off, people may listen to a how to if you didn't come in here like some kind of raging asshole saying their set up is worthless and ricey. Why the hell do you even care? As long as it's not hurting his engine and he likes it, let it go.

Second, he didn't buy a pre-made kit either. It's left over audio wire that he put to good use.

For all I know maybe you do have some good points, but i'm not going to come in here and try to read between the parts where you treat everyone else like they're retarded.

hey, the bad word nazi didn't filter out asshole

[bdiggy]

^^That's why I wrote it. I've seen it a lot lately and knew I could get it through.

[RotaMan99]

^^That's why I wrote it. I've seen it a lot lately and knew I could get it through.

LOL. You know that the filter tries to keep the forum clean by blocking all those words and one gets through so you just have to use it even though you know your not supposed to.

Smart Kiddy!

[bdiggy]

Kiddy? Whatever man. Go talk your electrical crap to someone else because no one here gives a damn.

[Cypher]

Before this gets out of hand...

Sorry to the OP