Skip to main content
Topic: Battery Cable (Read 1684 times) previous topic - next topic

Battery Cable

Where is the best spot/s to bolt down the Negative Battery Cable?

Currently it's connect to the fender wall, Near the starter relay.
That's how it was when i got it, But im not sure that's where it's supposed to be...

It's also now stripped/warped the hole that it was screwed into, And im not getting a good ground.
~Project ThunderStorm = '84 Charcoal Thunderbird - First Car - Long Time Work in Progress~
~Project (No Name Yet) = 1970 Plymouth GTX/RR "Clone"~

Battery Cable

Reply #1
The battery ground cable should have a clip around it where the insulation has been taken off and the clip grounded to the fender wall where you discribe.
It then continues on and is bolted to the engine block.

Battery Cable

Reply #2
you absolutely need a ground cable going to the block. this is how your spark plugs get a ground. the small wire going to the body, grounds all your lights.
1979 Ford Fairmont
[/B]
5.0L/4R70W/8.8"/5-lug/3" Exhuast


Battery Cable

Reply #3
Quote from: 32VFoxBird;164290
you absolutely need a ground cable going to the block. this is how your spark plugs get a ground. the small wire going to the body, grounds all your lights.


On the 84 3.8 the small wire on the negative battery cable goes to the EEC.
The main battery cable is grounded to the fender well and the engine block.
The engine block is also the ground for the starter motor. If the cable is not on the engine block, this is probably all of your starter problems.

Battery Cable

Reply #4
Quote from: softtouch;164323
On the 84 3.8 the small wire on the negative battery cable goes to the EEC.
The main battery cable is grounded to the fender well and the engine block.
The engine block is also the ground for the starter motor. If the cable is not on the engine block, this is probably all of your starter problems.


what he said,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
the small wire unhooked will result in a good prank to pull on someone but yeah, its a ground for the eec.
If you dont have a ground cable going to the frame and then leading up to the engine block,,,,,,,,,correct that because its wrong.  If its missing, the only other ground you might have is the braided cable going from the rear of your pass head to the firewall.  That braided cable is suppose to increase your ground potential for the upper most parts of the engine such as the heads/intake ect for those piece parts using the intake as a ground point. 
like this,,,,,,,,,,

Battery Cable

Reply #5
!!!
Wow, Thanks everyone i really hope this fixes my starting problems as well... *Feels Dumb*

Well i actually had to replace the original cable because it got corroded due to a hack job universal terminal clamp being put on.
I actually forgot where the first ground was bolted up to, So i just bolted up to the second position (where the insulation had been stripped and mounted to the fender wall).

Does anyone have any pics, Or know exactly where on the block it bolts up to?
While i was under the car the other day, I noticed there was a hole in the bottom of the alternator that was threaded-Maybe this is where it's supposed to go?
~Project ThunderStorm = '84 Charcoal Thunderbird - First Car - Long Time Work in Progress~
~Project (No Name Yet) = 1970 Plymouth GTX/RR "Clone"~

Battery Cable

Reply #6
Anyone???

I'm very anxious to get it bolted to the block and trying to start it to see if it helps any...
Would like to get it bolted back up the factory-or best possible spot though without damages.

The replacement cable i bought is about the same length as the original, So it should not be a problem, I just need to splice into it or add and extra ground for the fender wall.
~Project ThunderStorm = '84 Charcoal Thunderbird - First Car - Long Time Work in Progress~
~Project (No Name Yet) = 1970 Plymouth GTX/RR "Clone"~

Battery Cable

Reply #7
so put the  cable on.
1979 Ford Fairmont
[/B]
5.0L/4R70W/8.8"/5-lug/3" Exhuast


Battery Cable

Reply #8
>.<
I am, I just want to know where the lug end of the negative battery cable bolts up to on the engine block... Factory location preferred unless theres a stronger ground area on the block.

My manuals are useless with this, And i dont have the electrical manuals + I forgot where it bolted up to in the first place and i dont even think it was in the right place to begin with.
And i don't want to end frying or damaging anything by just randomly bolting it to an existing block stud/bolt.
~Project ThunderStorm = '84 Charcoal Thunderbird - First Car - Long Time Work in Progress~
~Project (No Name Yet) = 1970 Plymouth GTX/RR "Clone"~

Battery Cable

Reply #9
there should be a stud sticking out of the block to accept the lug end.  if not,, find a hole in the block that has threads,,,put it there.

you WANT to bolt it up to a random bolt on the block,,,,,,,,, listen to what people are saying.,,, get that cable installed from the bat,,,,to the frame,,,,,,,,,to the block,,,,,,dont care when you do it,,, just geterdone:D ,,,,,,,,sheshh man i even drew you a picture by hand and you still dont hear us.

btw,,, do it right!  dont be one of these "new americans",, be old school and serve yourself with some quality.  Just the fact that you are the one who decided to not install the cable correctly because you forgot where it went tells me you dont really give all that much of a  how you do things and what they look like in the end.  I dont really give a darn if this makes you mad,, im shooting straight from the hip because in the long run,,, people learn from others and one day someones gonna [COLOR="Red"]NEED[/COLOR] to learn everything [COLOR="red"]YOU[/COLOR] know.,, now what do you think you will have to offer?

the key here is to put yourself in good company with knowledge,,, and your trying to do that on this site but that isnt  gonna cut it cause you need the human part.  You sound like you want a lot and are willing to do it,, just dont forget about doing it right.

Battery Cable

Reply #10
Quote from: jcassity;164808
there should be a stud sticking out of the block to accept the lug end.  if not,, find a hole in the block that has threads,,,put it there.

you WANT to bolt it up to a random bolt on the block,,,,,,,,, listen to what people are saying.,,, get that cable installed from the bat,,,,to the frame,,,,,,,,,to the block,,,,,,dont care when you do it,,, just geterdone:D

btw,,, do it right!  dont be one of these "new americans",, be old school and serve yourself with some quality.  Just the fact that you are the one who decided to not install the cable correctly because you forgot where it went tells me you dont really give all that much of a  how you do things and what they look like in the end.  I dont really give a darn if this makes you mad,, im shooting straight from the hip because in the long run,,, people learn from others and one day someones gonna [COLOR="Red"]NEED[/COLOR] to learn everything [COLOR="red"]YOU[/COLOR] know.,, now what do you think you will have to offer?

the key here is to put yourself in good company with knowledge,,, and your trying to do that on this site but that isnt  gonna cut it cause you need the human part.  You sound like you want a lot and are willing to do it,, just dont forget about doing it right.


Owch...
Thanks for the truth though man... I actually consider myself a perfectionist-Really, Odd to hear someone say that. :hick:

The actual problem i guess is that i was wanting to get the car running, And make sure my engine wasn't shot before i got into my perfectionist mode. :hick:

Also, The "Original?" Hack job corroded negative cable the car came with was removed, And i didn't get around to putting the new cable on 'till a few months later (Got crazy busy with other stuff)-Hence why i forgot about the double grounding and in my short but growing knowledge of cars i didnt know i was supposed to ground it to the block...

Anyway~
Thanks for putting up with me and my quirks though. :hick:

Theres a stud at the top of the manifold-Near the front of the passenger valve cover, Is that good?
Right now it's hooked into a bracket holding the alternator because it looks like thats where the "original" cable was bolted.

And she's starting now, But not staying running... And on with the troubleshooting. :punchballs:
~Project ThunderStorm = '84 Charcoal Thunderbird - First Car - Long Time Work in Progress~
~Project (No Name Yet) = 1970 Plymouth GTX/RR "Clone"~

 

Battery Cable

Reply #11
usually there is a stud floating around not doing anything down low on the front pass side or pass side of the block.  grab a convienient ground where you like, just make sure it stays put and does'nt get in the way of future maintenance you might have to do.  This is one of those cables that once its installed, hardly ever gets noticed or bothered unless the motor is pulled.

keep in mind,, heat rises,, so putting the cable above or near the exhaust will make you stop and rethink where you dress it in at.