EVERYONE experiencing unknown overheating problems Please Read!! Check Ground Wires!

[Rock777]

Anyone having overheating, gauge, or fan problems, Please Read!

(see cliffnotes at bottom)

I have been having some odd issues lately, like several users here, with overheating, electric fan not coming on at the right temp, and so on. My battery gauge would show that I would slowly loose voltage and temp gauge would go up.

Long story short, I have been dealing with these issues for the past few months, even when cool outside. I have replaced radiator, 180 t-stat, coolant flush, checked waterpump, and have a switch for manual control of the fan. Still having issues. Have been searching like crazy on every forum possible and started reading about all the issues caused by not having good grounds.

I checked my grounds and negative battery cable and not only were they all a little corroded, but not secured very tight either. I replaced battery cable, new terminal, put 2 ground wires from block to frame under then engine, and added one ground from intake to firewall, making sure to sand all surfaces first.

BAM!!!! Instantly could tell dash lights were brighter, battery gauge was at half or a little over, temp gauge stayed on N even after 20 min. drive around town. Plus, my other gauges, which have been reading funny, were all on par as well. I know this won't help everyone, but it is quick and easy to check and came fix alot of headache!!! Heck, even helped my erratic idle.


Cliffnotes: Check ground wires and battery cables. Replace if necessary. Add an additional ground or two for peace of mind.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

That is great! Grounds are always overlooked but so important.

 

[gcomfx.com]

When I moved my battery to the trunk I found a really bad ground to the engine where it attached to the firewall. It had nearly rusted the bolt in two. It broke when I tried to remove it. I too had the limp gauges. New grounds were just the viagra they needed.

 

[Rock777]

That is great! Grounds are always overlooked but so important.

Absolutely they are! There have been quite a few post on similar issues lately, even since the weather cooled off a bit, that I hope this helps someone. I would have liked to read it before changing radiator, 2 t-stats, etc.etc.

 

[Bullitt95]

Absolutely they are! There have been quite a few post on similar issues lately...

..and mine was one of them. My temp. gauge would read higher and my voltmeter would read lower each time I applied an electrical load (electric windows, lights, AC, etc.). In fact, my temp. gauge would stay halfway or higher most of the time even after I had a new Mishimoto radiator and Mr. Gasket 180* t'stat installed. When the gauge would reach L and the fan still didn't come on, I smelt something wasn't right 'cause the engine didn't feel like it was overheating.
The ground connector between battery and chassis had disintegrated at the chassis end, so I replaced the whole wire with a newer thicker one. I also added a ground from intake manifold to firewall. The effect was dramatic. No more gauge fluctuation, and the temp. gauge never goes above halfway now (stays just above N during highway cruising). The fan, of course, wasn't coming on because the engine wasn't hot enough in the first place, yet my gauge was telling me otherwise! Not anymore.

 

[earleys94gt]

This is some good information to know, thanks.