zoomzoom_8

Hey everyone, need a little advice.

I have installed the switches on the mini-disc faceplate like Jenkinscrew's DIY. I am now putting in a couple of interior leds. But of course I need to ground the switch and each led. (i have only two right now).

Is it okay and safe to do this: Run a "common ground" for the switches and lights, (find a great place to ground, run a little larger than normal wire under the dash for the ground, and use wiretaps to tap the two leds into the ground and a wire tap into the ground for the switch? What I am trying to not do is, run a ground for all three switches, and then a ground for each led not to mention what ever else I decide to put in. Don't want a bird's nest of wires under there.

Method Two: I was also thinking that maybe I could make a ground wire on each side of the dash (tapping everything that needed a ground into it on that side) and one ground going to the switches with all three switches tapping it. Would that work?

Thanks for all your help!

Chris

datasmith

I have looked at the service manual and noted that there are just two locations in the interior dash area where the wiring harness is grounded. One is near the center/right portion of the dash behind/near the stereo head unit... rather hard to get to. The other ground lug is under the dash on the driver-side wall. Four healthy ground wires are attached to this lug, which is then bolted to the side wall. I spliced into one of those wires for my project. I had to remove the bolt/lug from the wall to pull it out far enough to get to the ground wires... spliced my ground wire to one of the harness's and then bolted the lug back. Read down this thread to the "Power Connections" post to see some pictures...

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...2&page=4&pp=15

I would run a single ground wire from this location past each of your components needing grounding, and splice along into this new ground as needed.

zoomzoom_8

Thanks Datasmith, thats a great help. I just got my 8 about a month ago and have not come across a service manual yet so I was lost! BTW, I am from North Carolina too! Wilmington here, what part are you from?

Thanks

Chris

datasmith

I live in the Winston-Salem area now, although I spent 10 of my prime years in Wilmington. Got my 8 in January.