ground wire install...
Thread Starter
frank castle
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: miami,fl
ground wire install...
just installed the ground wires. The car defenetly feels a lot smoother than normal + the throttle responds a lot quicker than usual. Will dyno the car after christmas to see if the car has any horsepower increase. Overall a great mod for your rx8 specially for $38 dollars shipped... Dont waste your money on expensive versions of ground wires as long as they all have the same gage thikness theyre all the same... bought them from www.maxground.com
Shock and Awe
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,871
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina
I like this footnote on that site...
*Actual effectiveness varies by vehicle and driving style.
... because of that, when you get no actual gain out of that crazy stray wire, they can blame your driving style, heh.
*Actual effectiveness varies by vehicle and driving style.
... because of that, when you get no actual gain out of that crazy stray wire, they can blame your driving style, heh.
Thread Starter
frank castle
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: miami,fl
its 4 wires and 4 grounding points. the instructions from maxground are car specific for the best results and include colour pictures to make the install a breeze. install took like 15 minutes, peace of cake even for me!!!!!
SocioPath
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Cerritos
So it looks like the wires go from the Battery to the Strut Tower, then from Strut Tower to the Chassis, then from the Chassis to the Engine Block, then from the Engine Block all the way to the other end of the Chassis? Did I get it right?
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, CA
Originally Posted by Sociopath
So it looks like the wires go from the Battery to the Strut Tower, then from Strut Tower to the Chassis, then from the Chassis to the Engine Block, then from the Engine Block all the way to the other end of the Chassis? Did I get it right?
Well actually, the grounds go from the Battery to the Strut Tower, then from Strut Tower to the Chassis, then from the Chassis to the Engine Block, then from the Engine Block to the other end of the Chassis and then from the other end of the chassis to the Ford F-150 4X4 and from the Ford F-150 4X4 to the Palm tree. Sorry I couldn't help myself :p
cheers
mike
Black and Red 94 Touring, 2004 Grand Touring
Thread Starter
frank castle
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: miami,fl
no: i just installed them over the factory ones. CAN WE STOP WITH THE DIRTY ENGINE BAY JOKES!! tHE ENGINE BAY WAS CLEANED AFTER THE PICS. Advise go with the wires from www.maxground.com they will do the same thing theyre the same thikness and everything,plus you save your self a lot of money$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I think you are right, the wires seem to be the same and ARE cheaper!! Great find, thanks for the info.
ロンリードライバー
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 480
Likes: 0
From: LA/OC/LV
The additional ground strap idea for new cars is loosely based on the true phenomena afflicting older cars in which chassis deterioration and corrosion causes electrical resistance against ground reference points. Many OEM sensors and electrical components that are possibly critical to the engine's fuel injection computer are made to reference ground points directly to the chassis as opposed to having discrete wires run to the battery. If the chassis ground points begin to fail, then your electrical components will likewise read incorrectly, and your car will drive in a substandard state. Adding ground wires direct from the battery helps to bypass the ground points which are affected by corroded chassis parts.
Kinda proud of my own home-brew kit - two 4-gauge cables to each ground!
If one ground is good, TWO must be better, right?
....and if you believe any of that, I have a deal on some swamp you may like!
I'm with Cort - just installed for the 'mad bling' effect!
If one ground is good, TWO must be better, right?
Originally Posted by GiN
The additional ground strap idea for new cars is loosely based on the true phenomena afflicting older cars in which chassis deterioration and corrosion causes electrical resistance against ground reference points. Many OEM sensors and electrical components that are possibly critical to the engine's fuel injection computer are made to reference ground points directly to the chassis as opposed to having discrete wires run to the battery. If the chassis ground points begin to fail, then your electrical components will likewise read incorrectly, and your car will drive in a substandard state. Adding ground wires direct from the battery helps to bypass the ground points which are affected by corroded chassis parts.
I'm with Cort - just installed for the 'mad bling' effect!
Beeeep
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Katy, Tx
Ok, I just wanted to hear some reasoning before I said this:
I am an Electrician. Commercial, Residential, Industrial, Military. No offence to anyone who has done it, but Paying $38 dollars for some wire and ring lugs is kind of throwing that money away. Wire size is soley dependant on actual current load. Your entire car sensor system probably has less than 5 amps of current draw. You could use as small as say a 18awg wire for that. Using a bigger guage wire than what is needed will not make the current flow any better or more efficently. A new car should not require this procedure in the first place, but it wont hurt it of course. You could have accomplised the same thing by going to Home Depot and spending about $5 for some smaller guage wire and some crimp on lugs. Just my two cents worth, so dont flame me OK.
I am an Electrician. Commercial, Residential, Industrial, Military. No offence to anyone who has done it, but Paying $38 dollars for some wire and ring lugs is kind of throwing that money away. Wire size is soley dependant on actual current load. Your entire car sensor system probably has less than 5 amps of current draw. You could use as small as say a 18awg wire for that. Using a bigger guage wire than what is needed will not make the current flow any better or more efficently. A new car should not require this procedure in the first place, but it wont hurt it of course. You could have accomplised the same thing by going to Home Depot and spending about $5 for some smaller guage wire and some crimp on lugs. Just my two cents worth, so dont flame me OK.
Rotary Newbie
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
I just instal it myself today. I agree, no way any HP will come my way and as the car is 6 mo. old, it is not corroded yet :o) Myself, I look at the wires as insurance for future possible elctrical troubles. And just like with insurance, you might need it but better not...
Peace of mind, really. Blue wires go nice with Ti also.
From my instalation: I did not cross the engine bay using the strut bar but behind the engine, on the firewall, using the already in place and not used tube holders there (two multiple ones, white collor, one is on top of the oil filter). Cleaner instalation...
Peace of mind, really. Blue wires go nice with Ti also.
From my instalation: I did not cross the engine bay using the strut bar but behind the engine, on the firewall, using the already in place and not used tube holders there (two multiple ones, white collor, one is on top of the oil filter). Cleaner instalation...
Unbalanced & Unmedicated
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 262
Likes: 1
From: PACNORWEST
Most of the additions available to date for this car are simply cosmetic. It doesn't take a rocket scientist or an electrician to determine that ground wires won't provide more HP. Like STEALTH mentioned most add-ons are only bling.
My decision to install the wires provides the bling effect but also will provide extra protection for future enhancements like an alarm and better A/V system.
My decision to install the wires provides the bling effect but also will provide extra protection for future enhancements like an alarm and better A/V system.
Shock and Awe
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,871
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina
I made my comment based on the original poster saying that he was going to get his 8 dynoed to check on any horse power gains. Waste of time IMO... bet he would get some pretty weird looks from the tech guys also.