Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 01:15:47 -0500
Reply-To: JM/CO <jmerritt2@CAPECOD.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: JM/CO <jmerritt2@CAPECOD.NET>
Subject: Re: A question about grounds...
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These cars are all getting to an age where insidious electrical problems are
beginning to occur due to corrosion at the terminations of the wiring,
especially the grounds. Those grounds that you mention terminate ( on my '83
anyway ) on the block, just inboard of the left head. There are two 10mm
bolts used. I have noticed, on the two engines that I have dismantled, a
noticeable amount of electrolysis action at this point. I would recommend
replacing ALL of the terminals on the ends of the wires that ground at this
point. Do not use crimp terminals. Use SOLDER type. Clean the contact point
on the block with sandpaper or a "dremel" type tool. Use some grease on all
terminals, and the bolt when you re-install everything. Tighten the bolt
firmly, but be careful, as these are aluminum ( and old ) threads, and will
definitely strip if too much torque is applied.
Chuck-- '83 Westy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeremy Speer" <jspeer@POBOX.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 7:38 PM
Subject: A question about grounds...
> Folks,
>
> I'm wondering about that ground point on the driver's side head... the one
> where the big ground exits to the chassis, but also that hard-to-find
ground
> comes out of the harness upstream of the Hall Sender connector and dives
> under the intake plenum, behind and under the A/C mount, to end at a bolt
> attached to the head.
>
> Mine is hanging on by a thread. The wire at the connector seems to have
been
> flexed a bit and does not inspire confidence. Problem is reaching that
bolt
> is nigh impossible.
>
> My question is, if i managed to get the connector free, can i run it to a
> more accessible ground on the engine or firewall? Is there some weird VW
> magic about grounding to the heads? And, am i being dense when ask what is
> the point of grounding a wire to a point on the head? Would it not be
better
> to ground it to a point on the block?
>
> I ask this now because i'm moving from connector to connector, cleaning
and
> reseating. I recently removed the transmission ground strap and cleaned
> everything until it shined. I swear the idle is smoother, there is
virtually
> no more hesitation coming out of second gear and MPG has moved from an
> average of 17.4 up to about 19.
>
> Bentley should add an entire section devoted to "Ground Maintenance."
>
> As always, thanks.
>
> -jspeer
> '89 Westy GL, "Mystery Machine"
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