Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Where does the ECM ground to?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 8, 2004 | 01:31 PM
  #1  
SoFla David's Avatar
SoFla David
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 315
Likes: 2
From: Miami
Where does the ECM ground to?

Saturday, my truck left me stranded. I knew it was an electrical problem because the Yellow Check engine light wouldn't come on when I turned the key.

After looking at the service manual and diagnosing the connections to the ECM, I determined that the ground wires (both of them) were not getting any ground.

I ended up splicing into one of them and tapping into a good ground. Now the truck runs fine, but I would really like to know where the wires are supposed to be grounded at so I can find (and fix) the problem.
 
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2004 | 01:44 PM
  #2  
frederic's Avatar
frederic
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,214
Likes: 13
From: New Jersey
Re: Where does the ECM ground to?

I ended up splicing into one of them and tapping into a good ground. Now the truck runs fine, but I would really like to know where the wires are supposed to be grounded at so I can find (and fix) the problem. [/B]
Good job, grounds near ECMs are often difficult to troubleshoot.

Both of them need to be properly grounded, not just one. Some, but not all of the EEC ECMs use the wiring harness to ground different parts of the circuit board inside, rather than have internal grounds looped around inside the enclosure.

Generally, grounding them to the body of the truck, or the metal dash support, or another ground wire will suffice.
 
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2004 | 04:26 PM
  #3  
chris1978's Avatar
chris1978
New User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Florida
i have an 89 f150 5.0 and the ground is left hand on top rear also check the ground from the battery to the harness.
 
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2004 | 04:28 PM
  #4  
SoFla David's Avatar
SoFla David
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 315
Likes: 2
From: Miami
Originally posted by chris1978
i have an 89 f150 5.0 and the ground is left hand on top rear also check the ground from the battery to the harness.
sorry, is that Driver side, or pass side?

Top rear of firewall???
 
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2025 | 04:00 PM
  #5  
Issame's Avatar
Issame
4wd Low
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 11
Likes: 4
From: Thousand Oaks cs
Originally Posted by SoFla David
sorry, is that Driver side, or pass side?

Top rear of firewall???
I always find it annoying when people give directions and they do not tell you driver side or passenger side because there is no such thing as the left side or right side to a vehicle!!
 
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2025 | 05:50 PM
  #6  
Truckbuck's Avatar
Truckbuck
Tuned
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 468
Likes: 67
From: Near SLC Utah
There should be 2 on the radiator support, one near the battery, and one near the drivers side of the radiator. There will also be one inside the cab near the fuse block. There is another ground that grounds to the frame and then to the engine block on the passenger side near the battery.
 
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2025 | 06:50 PM
  #7  
1Butcher's Avatar
1Butcher
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,822
Likes: 1,029
Originally Posted by Issame
.....because there is no such thing as the left side or right side to a vehicle!!
Yes there is. The problem is when you talk to professionals and novice, they both speak a different language. That language difference is where the problem lies.
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2025 | 07:32 AM
  #8  
Scndsin's Avatar
Scndsin
FTE Chapter Leader
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,338
Likes: 1,314
From: Central Mississippi
Club FTE Silver Member

Originally Posted by Issame
I always find it annoying when people give directions and they do not tell you driver side or passenger side because there is no such thing as the left side or right side to a vehicle!!
Wow. Just F'ing wow.

Bump a 20 year old thread to ed-g-cate all us Mo-Rons.

50 years fixin' cars & trucks & now I've been schooled to IGNORE all those "R"s & "L"s stamped & cast into the parts.

Who F'ing knew?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-4

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-6

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
Old Apr 17, 2025 | 11:29 AM
  #9  
Mikulh's Avatar
Mikulh
Laughing Gas
20 Year Member
Photoriffic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 904
Likes: 115
From: Laurel, MS
Since there seems to be some confusion, think of it as if you're sitting in the driver's seat.
Left = Driver's Side
Right = Passenger Side
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2025 | 11:50 AM
  #10  
Soup bean's Avatar
Soup bean
Cargo Master
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 2,258
Likes: 742
From: Maryland
"I'm coming in for right side tires"
"What? ... You mean passenger's side, or driver's side?"
Question you never heard in a NASCAR race ...
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2025 | 11:51 AM
  #11  
AppleFordParts's Avatar
AppleFordParts
SPONSOR
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 499
Likes: 305
From: White Bear Lake
As already pointed out. Left and right are based on your perspective from the drivers seat. Kind of important because although we're all primarily used to left hand drive cars there are plenty of right hand drive vehicles out there as well. The left and right based on sitting in the drivers seat applies to both.

-Steve
 
__________________
spowell@appleautos.com 1-800-328-9552 dfairbanks@appleautos.com


Reply
Old Apr 17, 2025 | 01:39 PM
  #12  
My4Fordtrucks's Avatar
My4Fordtrucks
Hotshot
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,832
Likes: 2,436
Originally Posted by Issame
I always find it annoying when people give directions and they do not tell you driver side or passenger side because there is no such thing as the left side or right side to a vehicle!!
Of course there is. It is the same with airplanes and boats. The left side is your left when in the vehicle or standing behind it facing forward.

Originally Posted by Mikulh
Since there seems to be some confusion, think of it as if you're sitting in the driver's seat.
Left = Driver's Side
Right = Passenger Side
Unless you are in England, Australia or Japan.
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2025 | 01:48 PM
  #13  
AppleFordParts's Avatar
AppleFordParts
SPONSOR
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 499
Likes: 305
From: White Bear Lake
Originally Posted by My4Fordtrucks
Unless you are in England, Australia or Japan.
Or driving a postal vehicle.
 
__________________
spowell@appleautos.com 1-800-328-9552 dfairbanks@appleautos.com


Reply
Old Apr 17, 2025 | 02:03 PM
  #14  
Jim_K's Avatar
Jim_K
More Turbo
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 739
Likes: 256
From: Zimmerman, MN
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by Mikulh
Since there seems to be some confusion, think of it as if you're sitting in the driver's seat.
Left = Driver's Side
Right = Passenger Side
Say what?





But seriously, picture of the dash of a good friend's '71 Chrysler VG (from Oz) that I work on.
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2025 | 02:05 PM
  #15  
Jim_K's Avatar
Jim_K
More Turbo
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 739
Likes: 256
From: Zimmerman, MN
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by My4Fordtrucks

Unless you are in England, Australia or Japan.
Yup! See my response in the post above.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:02 AM.

story-0
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-02 21:45:57


VIEW MORE
story-1
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-5
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-9
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE