Does anyone know of a good writeup on refreshing grounds on an OBS 1996 (5.8 E40D)? I just searched YouTube and didn't find it (though I did find it for other vehicles, so it's a "thing."

It's just hard to know where all the grounds are, especially smaller ones or ones that are hidden within other things. Sure, I can go around and do what I can do (and I've already done the big ones that are very obvious, and I keep them pretty clean). But I'm sure there's some I'm missing.

Particularly anything related to the computer. I have a hypothesis that my ground wire that returns/grounds the powered signals from the RABS module to the computer is bad. I'd love to start there but I don't see the frame ground for that circuit. (Of course it could be the smaller wires, but I'll start with the big stuff/corrosion before I start splicing in new frame grounds chasing after a hypothesis.)

Thanks!

 

Some helpful info here: Grounds

 

It’s not hard to know. The EVTM for your truck has that information:

 

Excellent, thank you! I'll start wtih the one labeled RABS. Not sure why I didn't see that when I searched, but anyway this is just what I was looking for.

 

Thank you still for posting, but those photos are of a completely different truck, verified today when I got out there to look. So I'm still looking for something similar for the 96 F250.

 

Do you have air bags or not?
Ground points will be different with regards to RABS.

Did you test for a bad ground, like the ground wire is open?

 

The ground points are the same for a 1992 versus a 1996. What was different for your truck versus the referenced truck in the link I posted?

 

I’m going to say the model year.

 

I do not believe the F250HD and F350 had an air bag. Only the light duty F250, F150 and Bronco got them.


I do not agree:

1992 RABS 42-1 Diagram is the first diagram. The second is for a 1996 model year F-Series truck.

 

1996 F-series section 10 - 9, 10 -10 - Grounds:




RABS:

 

So the RABS control module is grounded at G200 for a 1992 as well as a 1996 F-Series truck. I believe I was right.

 

Yes, looks that way. I suppose I was looking at the S258 vs S216 points being different, but yes you are right in that both those go to G200 in the end.

I cant remember what the "S" stands for.

 

S = Splice.

 

Which wire are you talking about? Since my question is basically, "where are all the ground wires hiding?", asking me if I tested the ground wire(s) doesn't bring us anywhere. If you lose your keychain, with a flashlight on it, and I ask to borrow that same flashlight to help you search for your keys....

Unless I am not understanding? Could be. I'm not smart.

 

No air bags, or so I've always assumed. Hm. How would I test? I think I have the dealer's spec sheet somewhere, I could dig that out.