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mrman
Dodge Dakota
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9/07/2002
11:22:23
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 Subject: better grounding???
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since I bought my dakota back in '99 it has stalled 5 times. Some days it runs strong but other days it feels weak. It always hesitates/stumbles just off idle when the motor is cold. Idle speed also varies from day to day, sometimes it's 700rpm, sometimes it's around 500. I was discussing this with my brother who had experienced similar problems with his 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX.(yeah, I know, it's a rice burner) I know the two engines are worlds apart, but I wanted to describe what my brother did to his engine and get some input as to whether or not it would work for my engine.
Here's the fix:
1 4ga. ring terminal attached to the negative battery post. That attaches to a 16" length of 4ga. power wire that goes into a solid brass distribution block. 4 8ga. power wires are attached to the dist. block. The 8ga. wires are of varying lengths to reach attaching points and are terminated with ring terminals. The 8ga wires are attached to the firewall, frame, engine block, and radiator support frame.
All the parts cost $37. Will it help??
00 CC Sport 4x4 4.7 3.55 auto 31's
9" S&B powerstak/IP Z-tube
Fastman 68mm tb
Gibson shorty headers and sweptside catback
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xplikt
GenIII
9/07/2002
13:32:19
|  RE: better grounding???
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Message:
I know exactly what you are talking about on the 2002 WRXs. I have a friend who did that modification to his car; surprisingly, it made a noticable difference!
It crossed my mind if that truck would work on our Dakotas, but I never gave it anymore thought. I have some pictures of his wiring at work and can post them later as an example. I am just not sure if it would work, or how well it would work on our trucks.
CW would be the best person to ask for a question like that.
2002 2WD RC SLT 4.7L 5spd 3.92 LSD
MBRP Single in/out, straight piped 3rd cat, turndown tip
Hotchkis swaybars and springs
Bilstein custom tuned shocks
Roadmaster Active Suspension
Shaved emblems and antennae
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DaveR
GenII
9/07/2002
13:49:24
| RE: better grounding???
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I run a second 4 gauge ground wire from the negative terminal to the frame. I don't know if there aren't enough points to make a difference, but i didn't notice a change. THis is in conjunction with the stock body gound.
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Bruce P
Dodge Dakota
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9/08/2002
21:32:16
| RE: better grounding???
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Instead of ADDING all of those wires, you may wish to improve the EXISTING ones. You would be surprised how many of the existing body connections still have paint under them.
I spesialize in electronics and can attest that POOR GROUNDING creates all kinds of funky problems. (Have you ever experienced a BEARING FAILURE due to all of the ground current flowing thru the driveshaft?... after 3 bearing replacements, the REAL problem was found....bad ground wire to rear of bus)
When I took delivery of my Dak, within a week I was under the hood "fixing" all of the grounds.
The process is performed to each ground wire one at a time;
1) remove screw/bolt and pull off stakon(s)
2) remove all paint from underneath to allow for metal-to-metal contact. (File, dremel tool...etc)
3) SOLDER the wire to the stakon! (crimps are notourious for having poor contact after some weathering)
4) file the stakon for clean surface.
5) replace bolt with all stakon(s)in place.
Do not forget all of the body grounds under the hood, behind the dash, at the rear end and the strap under the passengers-side door that goes from body-frame-exhaust clamp.
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sandman
Dodge Dakota
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9/09/2002
19:15:03
|  RE: better grounding???
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I can attest to the need for good grounds. As a young tech I made a customer for life quickly. A young man was driveing a Toyota Supra and it was running realy irratic and would stall. It ran strong but would stall for no apparent reason. Another dealership's tech told him his EMC was bad. I told him I would take a look at it. I asked him to pull it in and I would take a look at it. He poped the hood and The second I looked in the hood I could see and arcing wire. I had him shut it off. I put a lock washer on the grounding stud and tightened the nut down. I had him fire it up and it ran like a champ and never had a problem again.I did not charge him a dime. He was a regular for all his service needs from then on. He even bought most of his parts from the parts department! It was also common on early american made electronicly controlled tranys to have bearing problems due to poor grounding. I think you would be fine following bruces sugestons or even just buying some SS grounding straps from NAPA or useing 01Guage wire and soldering conectors on to them. One extra ground strap from engine to frame, one extra from trany to frame and one extra from battery to chasis should do it.
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mrman
Dodge Dakota
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9/10/2002
13:02:07
|  RE: better grounding???
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Bruce P, and the sandman,
Thanks for the input!! I think I'll break out the dremel and soldering iron this weekend.
00 CC Sport 4x4 4.7 3.55 auto 31's
Powertrax no-slip
9" S&B powerstak/IP Z-tube
Fastman 68mm tb
Gibson shorty headers and sweptside catback
looking at a venom 400
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