Main body electrical grounds
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
Main body electrical grounds
It seems that a gremlin has settled into my truck.
Every once in a while I get a complete power interruption. Sometimes its enough to cause the engine to stall. Turning on the headlights or the signal switch can cause the event.
The trailer brake controller is also lighting up when its not supposed to. Light comes on dim with parking lights and flashes bright with the hazzard lights on.
I suspect I have a bad ground some where, possibly in the rear for the tail lights. Damn road salt.....
Can some on direct me to where the sheet metal grounds are on the body of the truck? I know there is one near the wiper motor under the hood, but where do the tail lights ground?
Every once in a while I get a complete power interruption. Sometimes its enough to cause the engine to stall. Turning on the headlights or the signal switch can cause the event.
The trailer brake controller is also lighting up when its not supposed to. Light comes on dim with parking lights and flashes bright with the hazzard lights on.
I suspect I have a bad ground some where, possibly in the rear for the tail lights. Damn road salt.....
Can some on direct me to where the sheet metal grounds are on the body of the truck? I know there is one near the wiper motor under the hood, but where do the tail lights ground?
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
I wonder if we have the same problem, Joe.....
Getting another truck is not an option. What ever the problem is, I'll find it and kill it - I mean - fix it.
The truck has given me no electrical problems before now, but I know from other cases that a weak ground can cause all sorts of really strange symptoms that don't seem to make any sense at first.
We had a power outage thanks to sleat that was driving sidways today (as in the house lost power LOL). Needless to say, I didn't get much done today. I'll tear into it tomorrow.
Getting another truck is not an option. What ever the problem is, I'll find it and kill it - I mean - fix it.
The truck has given me no electrical problems before now, but I know from other cases that a weak ground can cause all sorts of really strange symptoms that don't seem to make any sense at first.
We had a power outage thanks to sleat that was driving sidways today (as in the house lost power LOL). Needless to say, I didn't get much done today. I'll tear into it tomorrow.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Check the engine to frame connections under the engine near the lift pump.
Check the ground wires near the passenger side battery.
Tail light ground is usually under one of the rear bumper bracket bolts drivers side.
I think you may have an under dash problem though.
Wait a minute, check the grey connector in this picture on the yellow wire.
Main power to the cab.
If it looks like it has been hot, surgery is required to remove the malignant tumor before you blow a head gasket from high blood pressure.
Check the ground wires near the passenger side battery.
Tail light ground is usually under one of the rear bumper bracket bolts drivers side.
I think you may have an under dash problem though.
Wait a minute, check the grey connector in this picture on the yellow wire.
Main power to the cab.
If it looks like it has been hot, surgery is required to remove the malignant tumor before you blow a head gasket from high blood pressure.
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Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
ooops. I don't remember any engine to frame connection near there.....
The two main battery grounds are at the front corners of the engine, then there is a ground strap from the rear driver's side head to the firewall at the wiper motor bolt.
Is there some other ground strap that should be coming off the engine?
The two main battery grounds are at the front corners of the engine, then there is a ground strap from the rear driver's side head to the firewall at the wiper motor bolt.
Is there some other ground strap that should be coming off the engine?
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Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
OK I did find that ground near the lift pump. I disconected it at the engine when I had the engine out for the rebuild, thats why I don't remember it.
The grey connector was melted. I started up the truck and could feel it getting warm in my hand. Not good. At first I thought I would try and separate it just to see what it looked like inside, but it was wielded together.
The tumor is out and the truck did fine on the test drive after the repair. I just hope there aren't any more. I'll drive it as is for a few days just to be sure. I was thinking about that connector but didn't look close enough since it was only melted on one side (hidden), my bad.
Thanks, Dave.
The grey connector was melted. I started up the truck and could feel it getting warm in my hand. Not good. At first I thought I would try and separate it just to see what it looked like inside, but it was wielded together.
The tumor is out and the truck did fine on the test drive after the repair. I just hope there aren't any more. I'll drive it as is for a few days just to be sure. I was thinking about that connector but didn't look close enough since it was only melted on one side (hidden), my bad.
Thanks, Dave.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 3
From: Ladner, British Columbia
Ground Strap
My F350 had one of those braided ground straps from the frame to the body in the vicinity of the Passenger side door. It started falling apart from rust when I undercoated the truck two years ago so I replaced it with a some jumper cable wire and homemade soldered clamps.
Not sure how important that ground cable was but it looked pretty scucumb and had almost completely rusted away. The intention was clearly to ground the frame to the body of the truck.
Seb....
Not sure how important that ground cable was but it looked pretty scucumb and had almost completely rusted away. The intention was clearly to ground the frame to the body of the truck.
Seb....
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 247
Likes: 1
From: KY
Ground straps are a very important part of the electrical system and that could be a big part of your problem, not sure what the rest of it is?
I always try and make sure every ground strap is in good shape and even add a few if I feel that the others aren't adequate. Newer vehicles even have trouble with their grounding systems, if I recall the Toyota Matrix' had grounding problems from the engine to body/frame where the headlights would dim or surge and there is a gound strap kit to fix the problem, so it is not just old vehicles that could use some improvements in the electrical systems.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
Joe, that might be part of the problem you are having. The first thing I would do is install some ground straps in the locations that are mentioned in this thread. You might not have to swap the whole wiring harness over if all thats really needed is a proper ground.