Rotario

Just received my grounding kit from Z Enterprises: http://www.maxground.com . I haven't installed it yet, but I'm very impressed with the cables, the instructions, and most of all, the price ($38.00, delivered). For less than half the price of some kits I've seen, I'm happy. I'll put them in this weekend.

Best,
Bill

aruffell

What tangible advantages do you get by installing them? Also, can you post a picture once the install is complete?

thanks!

Rotario

Hiya aruffell,

I doubt there's a whole lot of tangible benefits, despite all the outlandish claims made by many of the places selling them. I would expect a bit smoother idle, and maybe a bit more smoothness at high RPM's. To me, it's one of those things that is inexpensive, cannot do any harm, and probably will make some improvement, even if only a minor amount. I'll be happy to post some pics once I get the wires installed.

Best,
Bill

aruffell

Thanks for the info Bill. I see your point and I am tempted to do it too (that is why I was asking for a picture)... but at times I wonder how people selling such accessories can make the claims they do... can't be 100% real, but I would hope they aren't 100% false too otherwise it means there is no control over what people put on the market.

regards,
Alex

heespharm

couldn't this be a diy with some "0" guage wire and some connectors??? 0 guage wire sells for about a dollar something a foot...plus connectors... we're talking about a 10 dollar max mod

Rotario

Yeah, it could easily be a DIY deal. But you won't save quite that much. You'll need about 15 feet of wire, and then add in the cost of some good closed ring connectors. I'd bet that you'd spend at least $20, probably more like $25 to get all the parts. Still, you'd save a little money. I like the nice instructions (with pictures) that came with the kit though, so the extra cost was worth it (to me).

Best,
Bill

flip

LOL.. i'll be waiting on a DIY: MONSTER ground wire kit :D

RotorGeek

yeah man do a DYI

modena

Let us know about the results,
Ordered mine earlier today, and the (6 Speed Lighted Shift) and rubber floor mats...
Wife will kill me if she sees the visa bill next month!

Rotario

Put the kit in yesterday. Simple as pie. Took about 30 minutes, which included the time to find the appropraite sockets and apply Caig Pro Gold to all the contact points. Can't tell much difference driving, although it does seem to idle a bit smooter.

Best,
Bill

truemagellen

u sponsered or something?

what is the Zaino sticker on the battery cover for?

modena

Is there a way to reroute the ground wire (the one on the strut bar) to the back of the engine? (fire wall)
I already have a power wire on the strut bar for my amp.
Would like to keep them separate.

galleychief

Yes. They will route behind the motor and clip to the existing bracket on the firewall.

heespharm

hey can you scan and upload the directions that came with it... if you do I'll try to make a dyi and find reasonably priced connectors and wires

ps. do you know what guage wires it comes with?

Rotario

Nope, not sponsored. Just stuck that Zaino sticker on there for fun.

Rotario

Not sure what wire gauge it is. I'ts about 3/8" diameter (including the insulation) though if that helps any.

As far as scanning, I think that's hardly fair to the guy putting them together, and all the work he's gone to putting the instructions together. If he was selling them for a rip-off price, i might think differently, but for $40, I'd hardly call it price gouging.

Best,
Bill

modena

Yes, no problems on mounting the grounding kit on the back firewall.

TheTick

I did this to my ride back in Nov 03 and the only real difference that I noticed was that when I turned the lights on before the install the RPM would jump a bit. Now after the install no more jumping no matter how many different accesories that I turn on. The idle is hard to tell but it seemed the same to me when I did it.

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

I did mine last weekend and did not really notice any difference yet... so in all honesty, I'm not so sure if this is a worthwhile addition.
I also routed the long cable behind the engine, using the stock cable mounts. It looks much cleaner that way than zip-tying it to the strut brace.

SebtownRx8

Need some help.... i just installed mine but when i go to start it up the CEL is flashing the battery light is on the check tire light is on and the DSC light is flashing, i checked all the bolts and re checked them any1 have any idea whats going on? and the factory grounds are below the Z enterprises.

Spin9k

Here's my take - even if there is NO difference in the car using an OEM grounding system or an aftermaket system, the aftermarket will be better IF the connectors and wires are made of better than OEM quality material.

I put my grounding kit on after a couple yrs ownership. The kit I got had platinum dipped connectors that do not corode. When I took the OEM chassis bolts out to connect the aftermaket wires there with the OEMs, I could clearly see the blue-greenish corrosian on the connectors. They were in need of sanding/filing and not just a little on some.

Going to non coroding connectors has to AT LEAST keep the "brand new" quality of grounding OVER A LONGER TIME, compared to the OEM. Additionally, if you believe in even a little magic, perhaps there is some enhaced this or that, but the quality counts if you can find it I think most.

chickenwafer

iTrader: (9)

Does the car start? You may have blown a fuse. Check the drivers side kick panel and under the hood.


I had a cheapie eBay grounding kit on my 8 for months without an issues, then one random time I go out to goto dinner, turn the key, everything fine, goto crank, and POP! All lights go off, the gauges go out, everything goes blank.

I checked every single freaking fuse and not one was blown so I was starting to get worried. I decided to pull my grounding kit and then for the hell of it try to turn the car on, and it worked. It turned out the distribution hub on my eBay grounding kit was causing a short.

I'm also not a huge fan of the grounding kit look. I must say with my grounding kit I did notice less strain on the engine when running the headlights, radio, the radiator fans, the A/C, etc all at once. But it wasn't huge. I now have a trunk mounted battery so I may make a custom kit that will ground to the chassis in the rear and use that- keep it stealth.

Mazurfer

Do you have the Z-ENT kit or some other type? That could be important if you need help.

If the Z-ENT, then when you installed the kit, did you loosen or take off the negative terminal on the battery? If so........Did you do all the resets?

I've had my blue Z-ENT kit for about a year and while it's not going to do much, it will have a smoother idle, car will run a little better, lights just a tad stronger, will help with some interference(noise related).......so what the hell........why not do it, even if you do make your own.

SebtownRx8

Yes the car starts and runs fine i took it around the block, its just the damn DSC light flashing and the well ya know the traction light is illuminated the 1 above the speed its the car with skid marks. i even took the wires off and re installed them and still the damn light is flashing.

SebtownRx8

umm i just loosened the bolt i didn't take the ground off the battery did it say too? and DCS reset how do u do that?