2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Grounding How To, Pics Inlcuded

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Old Apr 24, 2003 | 06:34 PM
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Grounding How To, Pics Inlcuded

Alright first off for most the of the gounding I used a 10 gauge wire, yeah I know I shoulda used an 8 gauge which is a good idea, I just got lazy and I had a bunch of 10 gauge wire left over.

I grounded each of the following

1. Leading Coil
2. Trailing Coil
3. Pressure Sensor
4. Alternator
5. Engine Harness
6. ECU

#1



#2



#3



#4



#5



#6



All comments and questions welcome
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Old Apr 24, 2003 | 06:44 PM
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Did it help your all around accelartion cause I have a dead spot around 4k and was told grounding helps.
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Old Apr 24, 2003 | 06:52 PM
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Damn your picks are super fuzzy, but better than nothing, thanks blackrx7
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Old Apr 24, 2003 | 07:00 PM
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Sorry, but IMO that looks like a big ol' mess. There are much better locations that can be used that keep the wires either hidden or looking much neater.
For example, a short loop of wire could be used to ground the boost sensor to its mounting bracket, instead of a long wire to the strut tower.
The coils don't need any extra grounds, because they're already grounded to the chassis through their mounting brackets.
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Old Apr 24, 2003 | 07:03 PM
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Yeah I only got a 1.2 megapixel camera, I'm not sure how much that alt ground will help so I may just move it to the ground on the side of the engine bay where the battery is grounded, and sorry I that was on the firewall, I ment the ground under the right strut tower, I have yet to drive it but my idle seems much smoother.

Thanks NZ but if you saw my whole engine bay I don't care if it looks neat and tidey, just as long as it gets the job done
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Old Apr 24, 2003 | 09:52 PM
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Originally posted by BlackRx7
Thanks NZ but if you saw my whole engine bay I don't care if it looks neat and tidey, just as long as it gets the job done
Fair enough I guess, I'm sure they'll work fine.
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Old Apr 24, 2003 | 10:11 PM
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i still think one of the more experienced members should do a write up for grounding a second gen rx7. PLEASE!!!!
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Old Apr 24, 2003 | 10:38 PM
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I say follow the HKS kit - it works, it's neat and clean and easy to reproduce (or simply buy). If it were up to me I'd add one or two grounds to the kit (one to the alternator mount and one to the block) as the kit contains chassis grounds. The HKS kit on my car is as follows:

- 4 short wires from the neg. on the battery to a distribution block by the main fuse box in the engine bay. from there (instructions are for TII, NA requires making a couple points up) I have one ground to coil nearer the firewall, two grounds to this one bracket on the firewall (2 10 mm bolts to the chassis) and one ground point by the wiper motor. I scuffed all paint @ the ground points tonight after work and clean the metal w/ a wadding polish and re-attached all my points (didn't do that when I installed it a couple weeks back). I'd like a ground to the alternator mount...I'll make my own for that, the distribution block also has a lot more holes for adding wires to the kit.
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Old Apr 24, 2003 | 11:17 PM
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Where do you get this HKS kit? I was thinking about just buying a small roll of 8 gauge wire and spending an afternoon making some grounds up.
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Old Apr 24, 2003 | 11:47 PM
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Originally posted by Bebesito21
i still think one of the more experienced members should do a write up for grounding a second gen rx7.
Why do you need a write-up? All you're doing is running wires from one bolt to another, it doesn't get much easier. I've posted recommended locations numerous times, as have others. All you need for materials is some 8GA cable and two crimp lugs for each wire.

IMO that HKS kit is massive overkill and a waste of money. You can achieve the same results will less wires and materials costing a tenth as much.
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 01:58 AM
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Originally posted by NZConvertible
Why do you need a write-up? All you're doing is running wires from one bolt to another, it doesn't get much easier. I've posted recommended locations numerous times, as have others. All you need for materials is some 8GA cable and two crimp lugs for each wire.

IMO that HKS kit is massive overkill and a waste of money. You can achieve the same results will less wires and materials costing a tenth as much.
I agree, your basically paying for the name.......... (don't mind my name)
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 03:13 AM
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for gorunding, is running the cable straight to the battery the most optimal choice?
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 12:49 PM
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on #5 what's is it connected to? i can't see a thing.
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 12:52 PM
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sorry to be stupid but i just dont know this and would like to noe
wuts does this grounding do
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 02:04 PM
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Originally posted by NZConvertible
Why do you need a write-up? All you're doing is running wires from one bolt to another, it doesn't get much easier. I've posted recommended locations numerous times, as have others. All you need for materials is some 8GA cable and two crimp lugs for each wire.
Well, some of us (that would include me ) are not comfortable doing things by being told how to do it. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

BlackRx7 - Do you have another pic of the ECU ground, I can't make out exactly which wire(s) you have grounded (or even if you have the same picture without the yellow circle). Thanks.
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 02:06 PM
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Originally posted by donut
sorry to be stupid but i just dont know this and would like to noe
wuts does this grounding do
The Second gen RX-7 is notorious for having bad electrical wiring (especially the grounding). Adding these ground points helps the car run better (especially if you have the 3800 rpm stumble... grrrrrrrr).
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 02:11 PM
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Originally posted by 600HP CLUB
on #5 what's is it connected to? i can't see a thing.
That looks like a bolt on the engine, just behind the oil filter.
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 09:27 PM
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Sorry for not replying just got back from the Mazda Rev It Up VIP event in Houston, Which I placed 5th outa like 100 ppl, which was fun as hell!!

i still think one of the more experienced members should do a write up for grounding a second gen rx7. PLEASE!!!!
Down to business who says I'm not experienced, I guess rebuilding porting my own engine and installing all the mods on your car yourself doesn't count as experienced?

on #5 what's is it connected to? i can't see a thing.
Its the bolt that holds a flywheel cover plate, and the the grounded under the 8 gauge wire you see there is the wiring Harness engine ground.



BlackRx7 - Do you have another pic of the ECU ground, I can't make out exactly which wire(s) you have grounded (or even if you have the same picture without the yellow circle). Thanks.
Sorry I assumed you guyz had the plug diagram
this will tell you witch wire is the ground, thanks to www.1300cc.com



Also after installing these grounds my car ran SO MUCH ******* BETTER!!!! I only have to crank it once on a cold start (ofcoarse I have to hold the throttle open) and before I used to have really work it to get it started when cold, Next I think my plug were firing alot hotter, because on a WOT run I saw 1400-1500* F on my EGT, and before I only saw 1200-1300*, not to mention I no longer have the 3800 rpm hesitation, its totaly gone!, and when I slam it in frist gear starting off slowing (like 2Krpms) then at WOT at 5K-6K rpms makes car just gets sideways, then if I shift to 2nd like that I get more sideways burning it all the way to third.....I'm very anxious to she what she runs in the 1/4 NOW
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 11:32 PM
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man what do you need to get a sticky? I guess I can't have pics, just text
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Old Apr 26, 2003 | 01:41 AM
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thanks for the pics, blackrx7. I've gotta get some wires and go nuts!
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Old Apr 26, 2003 | 08:37 AM
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BlackRx7, what problems were you having before this that you felt you needed to run new grounds? Just wondering cuz i really dont know if i should do this yet.
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Old Apr 26, 2003 | 10:14 AM
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Ryl, its not going to hurt for you to have grounds. I'm doing mine today! Think of it as insurance.
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Old Apr 26, 2003 | 02:03 PM
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very very hard start when cold, 3800 rpm heistation, ranging from 3000 to 4000 rpms, somtimes bad sometimes not, power was really shabby under 3k rpms, lack of torque when someone road in the car with me it felt like I was driving an N/A.....I think most of this was due to the ground on the ecu, it was pretty shabby after all the soldering for my SAFC and Turbo Timer
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Old Apr 26, 2003 | 02:10 PM
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Ya, I am just finishing up mine now, but for the pressure sensor ground, I can't tell where it is grounding to, anyone?
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Old Apr 26, 2003 | 02:26 PM
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On an 87 TII the ground wire is the brown wire with black stripe, on my 88TII it was an all black wire.....for the pressure sensor
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