Help on installing a new battery cable kit and - Where is the engine ground located?

[klein444]

Thanks for the feedback on my wifes 96 police vic - it is definately the engine ground. I know because this morning it would not crank (first time it acted up since last weekend - see post below) and before I wiggled anything I ran a jumper cable from the negative battery to the engine block. Vrooom! Started right up after that.

So I wiggled the negative battery cable some removed the jumper cable and it has acted fine all day.

I ordered a battery cable kit from FORD dealer (inlcudes positive, negative and engine ground) and will have it in an hour or so.

What do I need to do to plan for the project?

Where is the ground strap located for the engine block?

If I run a second engine ground where should I run it on a 96? Also, any particular ground strap that you guys have found that works well?

I appreciate any tips and how to's as I like to be over prepared when I hit the garage to start replacing cables.

I am also going to look over the harness and clean out and of the hacked wire stubs left when the prepped the car for auction.

I am taking your guys advice and not replacing the PCM, although I ordered one so I will have it for a paper weight now.

Thanks for the help!

GOD BLESS

john

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...r/DSC00598.jpg

[drwolfenstein]

i woud assume the engine ground( engine to frame ) would be either on the right front or right rear of the block. as far as a second ground, anywhere you go from teh block to the frame, make sure you buff off the surfaces so you get a good connection. genernally i would go off a acessorie bracket bolt ( alternator, a/c comp, etc.) and the ground from teh battery should go directly from teh battery ( which ever side it is on) and straight to the block, no more then a couple feet long, if i where a betting man i would say that alone (battery to block cable) is your problem. look for corrosion (white powdery stuff if your not sure) and feel the positive cable, if it feels soft and bulgy, replace it, if it appears to be fine i wouldn't worry about it, your call of course.

[klein444]

Well I installed the FORD battery cable kit today. Turns out FORD builds the kit to include a combined positive/negative cable with a brackect that mounts to the rear of the passenger side head, The groiund wire is oart of the henress and mounts to a ground point using one of the tranny to engins bloeck mounta just aboue the starter.

So I :
- Removed the abttery
- Raised the vehicle
- removed the two cats that go from the exhaust manifold to tail pipe
- removed old ground wire (could see corrosion)
- removed positive lead from starter
replaced in thet order with the new OEM wire kit.
- Added two extra ground straps from block to frame
- clecned up any police related cut and go snips I could see. The power block alone had three pig tails fo former power leads.
Reversed the removal process to install.

Car fired right up and runs great. It seems smoother under full throtle and is still very fast. Starts right away. Happy car once again.

GOD BLESS!

john

[drwolfenstein]

happy to help if it did at all

[klein444]

Funny – looking at my post above it would appear that I loose my ability to spell late at night after a successful day working on the car and enjoying a few cold beverages


I think one can make sense of it if you read it slowly. I’ll run spell check next time.

Thanks again for the help – my wife drove the car today for the first time since the repair and here are a few of the words she used to describe how the Vic is driving:

Peppy

Happy

Smooth – she said like Barry White smooth

Sure of itself

Zinggy

So I would say she is happy – my wife and the car! And if the wife is happy then the whole house is happy.

GOD BLESS!
john