When my motor was replaced, the shop took the little ground off the back of the motor and never put it back on- does this need to be put on, or does it not matter? Is this the only engine ground on the Mustangs? Could this be robbing me of power? Thanks for any info.
Grounds are important to any electrical system, and especially to computers.
1.) The main power ground is from engine block to battery: it is the power ground for the starter & alternator.
2.) The secondary power ground is between the back of the intake manifold and the driver's side firewall. It is often missing or loose. It supplies ground for the A/C compressor clutch and other electrical accessories such as the gauges. Any car that has a 3G alternator needs a 4 gauge ground wire running from the block to the chassis ground where the battery pigtail ground connects.
3.) The computer has its own dedicated power ground that comes off the ground pigtail on the battery ground wire. Due to it's proximity to the battery, it may become corroded by acid fumes from the battery.
4.) All the sensors have a common separate ground. This includes the TPS, ACT, EGE, BAP, & VSS
5.) The O2 sensor heaters have their own ground (HEGO ground) coming from the computer. This is different and separate from the O2 sensor ground.
6.) The TFI module has 2 grounds: one for the foil shield around the wires and another for the module itself.
7.) The computer takes the shield ground for the TFI module and runs it from pin 20 to the chassis near the computer.
8.) The computer's main power ground (the one that comes from the battery ground wire) uses pins 40 & 60 for all the things it controls internally.
in addition, it cant hurt to run another ground or two. i plan to. gives you some cush if another gets some resistance. plus the thing is marginally grounded in all probability(why would it be different than the rest of the wiring. LOL).
the Heater ground for the lambdas is often left off (as JR said).