Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2017 20:55:41 +0000
Reply-To: George Gaudette <gcgaudette@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: George Gaudette <gcgaudette@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Where's the other end of my broken ground strap?
In-Reply-To: <CY1PR20MB00291C279B65A7D92BE817C4A0300@CY1PR20MB0029.namprd20.prod.outlook.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I have found a photo of "the other end". Like the photo in my first post
on this topic, this is not a photo my van -- it's another photo posted to
TheSamba.com. There's no AC compressor in this photo, which really helps
for viewing. Here it is, in case anyone finds this thread later:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/425705.jpg
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=286798 (discussion page)
Note also the empty bolt hole a little higher in the photo, I think that
would work just as well though with the compressor in place it's a little
harder to reach. (On my van there's no second wire (the brown/black one)
sharing the bolt location -- it's connected to the upper bolt instead,
assuming it's the same wire.)
So now I know I had located the correct bolt location before posting --
where the cable terminal ended up is a mystery. Anyhow, on to the
multimeter diagnostics.... thanks again for advice folks.
-George
On Sun, Mar 26, 2017 at 6:20 PM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> I know other chimed in. The other end of that ground strap is attached to
> the cylinder head. This ground is extremely important as it helps to
> provide a "0" reference point for the fuel injection sensors. Depending on
> year there are also other ground wires on the other end or it is with one
> of the screws holding the coolant pipe for the oil cooler. To get to
> removing the AC compressor will help. There is enough room for the
> compressor to be moved out of the way without disconnecting the lines.
>
> The major ground for both starting and charging current is at the front of
> the transmissions. If both these grounds are missing than parts of the fuel
> injections system will try to be the ground path and you can be amazed at
> how much wiring you can fry.
>
> Looking at that photo you have a serious case of neglect going on with all
> those grounds and the day will come that all sorts of things can go wrong.
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of George Gaudette
> Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2017 9:36 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Where's the other end of my broken ground strap?
>
> Hello,
>
> A braided ground cable on my van fell apart, just like:
>
>
> https://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m144/Mikls63rag/Posting%20shit%20up/2010-09-06171905.jpg
>
> Same cable as mine -- one end bolts in clear view under the starter.
>
> I am not...very mechanically inclined. I don't even own a voltmeter (I
> know, I deserve whatever comments I get for that admission!) But this
> seemed like a small job I could handle. Battery disconnected.
>
> I have two questions:
>
> 1) Other bolt location?
>
> The other bolt location is... somewhere under the AC compressor? I can't
> just follow the cable -- it was very brittle and pulled off in my hands
> when I gave it a little tug (dummy). But it should still be easy to spot,
> since the cable terminal is should still be attached, right?
>
> I don't suppose anybody has a good photo of "the other end"?
>
> 2) **Can** a Vanagon start without that ground cable being connected?
>
> Here's what happened: The van was running normally. I parked for a
> couple minutes, turned the key, but no sound from the starter. I could
> hear the fuel pump do its initiation whiz sound for a sec, then silence
> until I relaxed the key.
>
> The broken ground strap looked to me like the obvious culprit. But if the
> van **can** start without it, then I've probably got another problem, right?
>
> For what it's worth, I did install a new cable already, but no change to
> symptom. I'm hoping I just chose the wrong location to bolt it to
> (question #1). I did clean up the terminals some, but not down to bare
> metal. Light coat of dialectic grease on everything, including the new
> braid.
>
> Either way, the van is on its way to my mechanic, but I'd rather drive
> then be towed.
>
> Thanks for reading!
>
> -George
>
| 
