So, I got this weird issue. I hooked up my aem wi and I am finding that when you touch the red wire on the pump to the + on the battery, there is +12v on the grnd wire. is this normal?

 

many load circuits work that way, don't overthink it. when people start checking ground for 12v, you'll just start getting confused because you are seeing the flow of electrons trying to complete the circuit even if it is relatively idle. your voltmeter is basically completing the circuit yet not allowing current to pass.

 

If I remember right, the AEM controller works by completing the ground circuit to turn on the pump so that sounds correct.