Want to see the temp gauge on my van go up? Simple! Turn on the lights and heater blower.

I've already replaced the instrument cluster voltage regulator but that didn't do the trick. Now I'm thinking it's a weak ground.

Reading around on here I've seen it said that an engine block to firewall ground (or possibly even a ground to the steering column) might help my situation.

I've spent a fair amount of time underneath the vehicle, for one thing or another, but I can't recall ever seeing an engine block to chassis grounding strap.

QUESTION ----> does anybody know where I should be looking, or where a block to firewall ground strap should be, on my late '86 /early '87 carbureted 460 E350 cutaway camper van?

Thanks in advance for any advice that you may have.

 

I had a E350 Econoline Quadravan and had never ever any probs with it.

I wish that I never ever sold it..........

 

I have no idea where it would be on a van. I have never worked on a van, but on my truck it runs from a dedicated bolt on the back of the intake manifold near the throttle lever to the body with a short piece of braided ground strap. You might look around in that area and see if you can find it. Quite often mechanics will leave them off. I did have a problem several years ago with the ground to the instrument panel corroding. It caused my instruments to go nuts. In my truck it is referred to as G-701 and is on the Y brace for the steering column behind the instrument panel. I just unscrewed the 5/16 bolt holding the spade lug to the Y-brace and cleaned the contacts to a bright finish and tightened the bolt back up and the problem was cleared. Good luck.