I have been dealing with some strange problems that could possibly be related to a bad ground. This strap here that connects to this bar and then to a bolt on the motor was loose. Actually, not just loose but there was no nut on the bolt so it was just loosely sitting over the bolt.

The biggest and probably dumbest question is, Is this an important ground?!?!

It goes from the engine to the body under the windshield and then another strap from there to the hood. To get it secured, I placed a nut on one end and then tightened the bar to that nut using another nut and snugged it down tight. It is secure now. I wont find out if it helps for a while as I am waiting on a new ECU to install.
On another note, is it possible that this loose ground could cause rust and corrosion around the engine area it is was loose and sitting on? Lots of rust on the bolt and on the end of the bar that was over the bolt.

 

i am not that familiar with gas engines in these trucks, but i can say with 99% faith that is not factory and old owner installed.
now with that said, there should be a ground strap of some sort, usually a braided strap like is connected to that "riser" that goes from the rear of the passenger side head to the cab. then another on from cab to frame.
the main battery negative cable goes from battery to engine block, usually to front of passenger head area. also a smaller wire to radiator support, or passenger inner fender.
with those grounds in place, all metal parts of the truck will be properly grounded to battery.

 

It's been awhile since I messed with a gas engine in these truck just like TJC mentioned, but I agree that doesn't look like a factory ground. In the end, as long as everything (engine, frame, body, ect) has a good ground connection you're doing alright.

I recently made new battery cables and grounds on my truck. The factory chassis ground cables are pretty lame.

 

That is a factory support bar. It went from the exhaust manifold to the intake upper plenum. How is the upper plenum not in your picture? I did not reinstall the bracket because it did not fit when I installed the headers. The ground wire from the manifold to the cowl is also factory correct.



Upper bracket connection circled.


Did the lack of a ground wire cause the rust? No.

 

Those braided ground straps have nothing to do with the running of the engine.
They are for the radio only. They keep the radio from having popping noise as you drive down the road from static charge build up..
That bar went from the upper intake to the exhaust manifold.

The red arrows point to the bar and the ground strap in the photo below:

/

 

Well…sort of.

You have a thread about your speedometer reading incorrectly with e4od problems on a 1990 Bronco. There is a thread about a mass air fault code 157 and now a ground wire question mentioning driveability concerns.

Are these threads all about the same ‘90 Bronco? I ask because as I mentioned in my previous post I do not see the OEM upper intake manifold in your picture of the support bar and 1990 Bronco would not have a mass air meter. Has the truck been converted to a carburetor or some sort of aftermarket mass air computer system? It would sure help us try to figure out what what is wrong if you told us what you have.

 

not a factory ground spot. Should Be installed on top of engine somewhere, not side.

 

Yes. It is. See posts 4 & 5.

 

Guess I'm a moron. I'll take it. Every truck I've seen had it elsewhere but my fault for not reading the other posts.

 

It is a factory ground, and bar that bolts to exhaust and intake manifold.
What is not factory, are those headers, and probably removal of factory intake.

So, get rid of the ugly, remove that bar from the exhaust, and find either an open hole on the intake or head with threads, and bolt the strap there.