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whats an EMU? i dont do so well with letters

 

An EMU is a large, flightless bird, related to the Ostrich, but smaller...(Sorry, couldn't resist, I know I'm no help!) I looked at the pics in your gallery, then went out and looked at my '89. I have the same funny looking plug off the batt. ground, and I still have the original ground clamp, so even tho it looks like an add-on, it's stock. (Mine's all taped up, I don't know why. I'll unwrap it later.) The ground wire that you show on the throttle cable bracket, I have as well, but mine is bolted to the very back of the plenum. I assume that someone, at some time, did some work on your truck and was left with that ground cable and didn't know where to put it so they just stuck it somewhere convenient. Or maybe mine was changed. I know the motor was replaced, maybe twice from what I've been able to find out, and there were all sorts of wires and clamps and things left unhooked or changed around. As long as it's grounded, and not interfering with anything, it should be OK. As for the EMU, there are so many electronic components and sensors these days, and they give them all such cute little names and acronyms that I can't keep track. And different manufacturers seem to come up with dfferent names, and therefore different acronyms, for the same component. I'm looking thru my manuals for the EMU and not finding it. Hey, GrayRanger, what is this thing anyway? If Iv'e got an EMU under my hood, I'd like to know what/where it is before it lays an egg or something! -TD

 

ECU = engin control unit. its the trucks computer.It works best if you have it grounded.Its locatrd on the passenger side kick panal{under the dash right in front of the door.

 

Ha! I thought maybe you meant ECU! I couldn't find no friggin' EMU's nohow! Durn typos anyway!

 

Thanks Dan I think you got it right ,ECU is right.Anyho its the Main computer for the veh, that part I did get right !!

I beg ya'lls forgiveness
Jeff

 

BTW, the EVTM for my 87 sez to check the engine to body ground strap if "all gauges are erratic high or low" or if "any gauge is out of calbration". On my 87 the engine to body ground strap is connected between the back side of the driver side cylinder head & beside the windshield wiper motor. It's a flat wire mesh cable. Looks like a 1/2 inch socket wll fit, just loosen each bolt slightly, wiggle the wire to clean & retighten. Then see how your gauges work.

 

Or check it to make sure it's even connected. It's amazing how many people forget to hook up little things like that, thinking it doesn't matter. I bought a Sunbeam one time that turned over real sluggishly, and smoke would come out from under the hood if you cranked it for more than a few seconds. The battery mounts behind the seat in those things, and the ground strap is between the trans. and the frame. It wasn't hooked up, and the engine couldn't get a good ground for the starter, so the ground path was going through the throttle linkage. Not good! The lower end of the ground strap on the Ranger is a little tough to get to, being on the back of the cylinder head like it is, you'll want to work on it with the engine cold. And the Negative battery cable that you mentioned way back at the beginning of all this goes down under the pass. side exhaust manifold and bolts to the side of the block. Mine has the insulation melted and cracked off of it from exaust heat. You might look at yours and see if it's the same way, you might want to replace it anyway since it's got one of those clamp-on terminals on it. -TD

 

We moved and cleaned the groung on the top. Also reinstalled the other ground off the battery. It seemed to work ok as he drove off yesterday. He hasn't called to say. Durned kids. I was goin to tell him the Emu thing but ya beat me to it.

his dad

 

Could'nt agree with you more on the "durned kids" thing. Keep us posted, sounds like you might have gotten it.

 

old fogies..... but thanx for the help. it runs GOOD. ever since my granddad gave us the truck it would take like 3 tries to start, and nobody knew why. now it starts first try. all because of one little freakin wire. who knew one wire could be that important?
but yeah thanx again for yall's help.
later
psycocrazy

 

Psycocrazy which wire was it????

I see your Dad said "we moved & cleaned the ground on the top". Was this the lone black wire connected to the rusty spot, running towards thr pulley in the picture???

"Also reinstalled the other ground off the battery."???? was this the open strand wire clamp at the battery in the picture, or was it the other end that connects to the engine block????

Anyway it's good to hear every thing seems to be behaving ok.

Now you can go back to MAX cooling in that 90 deg heat!!!!

 

we moved and cleaned the ground from the a/c clutch. We also pu the 3rd wire to ground from the battery. We even tightened up the clamps some. Not sure exactly which 1 did it but like he said it even starts now without extra turns. Thanks fellas.

 

woo hoo. 4 or 5 days later and still runnin like a champ....... everything works!!!

 

Amazing what a good ground will do for your ride isn't it!!!!

 

heck yeah....... now if someone would invent a leakless valve cover gaskets....