Signal ground troubleshooting 91-93 5 Mustangs
The computer pin 46 signal ground is a critical component: it provides ground for the Baro, TPS, ECT, EGR position sensor and ACT. Signal ground is used in many circuits that have analog inputs to isolate the electrical noise. It is always separate from power ground, although both may have a common connection origination point. Signal ground usually has some conditioning that reduces the electrical noise to prevent false readings
The gray/red wire (pin 46) is signal ground for the computer. It provides a dedicated ground for the EGR, Baro, ACT, ECT, & TPS sensors as well as the ground to put the computer into self-test mode.
If this ground is bad, none of the sensors mentioned will work properly. That will severely affect the car's performance. You will have hard starting, low power and drivability problems. What sometimes happens is that the test connector gray/red wire gets jumpered to power which either burns up the wiring or burns the trace off the pc board inside the computer. That trace connects pins 46 to pins 40 & 60.
See http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/749974-computer-issue.html#post7490537 for Joel5.0’s fix to the computer internal signal ground.
If the ground for the TPS goes bad, the TPS output voltage increases and the idle speed goes up.
Troubleshooting signal ground problems:
Note that all resistance tests must be done with power off. Measuring resistance with a circuit powered on will give false readings and possibly damage the meter.
1.) With the power off, measure the resistance between the computer test ground
(Gray/red wire) on the self test connector and battery ground. You should see less than
2.0 ohms.
2.) MAP circuit: Check the resistance between the gray/red wire on the MAP/BARO sensor and then the gray/red wire on the EGR and the same wire on the TPS. It should be less than 1 ohms. Higher resistance than 1 ohms indicates a problem with the 10 pin connector or the splice inside the main harness where the wire from the 10 pin connectors joins the rest of the gray/red wire. Next check the resistance between the gray/red wire and the negative battery cable. It should be less than 2.0 ohms.
3.) Engine mounted sensor circuit: Check the resistance between the gray/red wire on the TPS and battery ground. It should be less than 2.0 ohms. Higher resistance than 2.0 ohms indicates a problem with the 10 pin connector or the splice inside the main harness where the wire from the 10 pin connectors joins the rest of the gray/red wire.
See the graphic for the 10 pin connector circuit layout.
Fuel injector wiring harness sensors for a 5.0 mustang