Check your grounds
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Check your grounds
I have been trying to chase down the cause of my lopey idle. I suspected that the cam in the 429 was stock. I was right. I posted a question to the appropriate engine forum looking for answers. Why is it that the simple crappola always is the cause? I was tinkering around under the hood while thinking what could be the cause. Timing is spot on... Carb is adjusted spot on. New plugs and wires cap and rotor. Brand new distributor. Then it hit me....dang that ground cable loooks awful. The battery clamp is crappy and the connection at the passenger side cylinder head is pretty gross as well. I replaced the cable and cleaned the connection at the block. Shebang.....idle issue solved. Dash lights are brighter...amp gauge shows more charge...headlights are brighter...and overall has more poop off the line. I suspect that the poor ground was muffing with my electronic ignition. Repeat after me...all together now...check the ground first.....check the ground first. Methinks I will add a couple ground wires as well. One to the frame and one to the body in addition to the connection on the block.
Cheers.
Bill.
Cheers.
Bill.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Yea, basics. And on a similar topic, those decades old crusty rubber harness connectors (they get crusty in our dry heat) sometimes harbor relatively highly resistive current paths from mud and gunk. If you think about 13V trying to drive .5A into a little light a measily 10ohms of crud consumes more than a third of the power. Low voltage is very safe, but not very efficient from a power standpoint. I'm on an electrical crusade with a 78 Supercab known as Fang. So far he's still a heathen, but he will convert.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
May I suggest posting the *solution to problem update* to what the cause was in your original thread ?
Just the solution to the problem... of the numbered question it was.
This way it will stay with the original thread
Glad you solved it.
Is there not braided ground cable attached from the intake or block to the firewall ?
Just the solution to the problem... of the numbered question it was.
This way it will stay with the original thread
Glad you solved it.
Is there not braided ground cable attached from the intake or block to the firewall ?
