Chevy Cavalier Owners

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

IMO the ground wire should be as short as possible.

Hasn't caused a single problem yet. You also have to take into account with my install I had //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif no choice but to leave some slack or the install would have been that much harder to complete. If I only had a couple of amps I might have made a real short ground for them but when I have 5 amps running and they all need to find the common grounding point its not that easy.

On another note, what problems do you think would arise if "McGee" were to add a couple of feet of wire to each ground wire to reach an adequate grounding point.?? Personally, I don't think he would have any what so ever.

 

[TeenWolf 10+ year member]

Problems?

The amp may not ground properly and not operate at optimal perfomance. Every manual I've ever read advised to keep it short. The grounding wire that came with my kit was only 3 ft.

Good to hear that it works fine for you. I just wouldn't want to take the chance. I don't particularly enjoy pulling my system apart on a regular basis, so I pay attention to install details and follow them to the letter.

I'm not saying that a long ground is doomed for failure - just increasing the risk.

 

[JoseMCeee 10+ year member]

Mc Gee? ... watever.

Anyways I saw the rear shock struts in the car but there is hardly any space to unscrew the nut and I dont have any ratchet tools //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/uhoh.gif.c07307dd22ee7e63e22fc8e9c614d1fd.gif

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

Problems?
The amp may not ground properly and not operate at optimal perfomance. Every manual I've ever read advised to keep it short. The grounding wire that came with my kit was only 3 ft.

Good to hear that it works fine for you. I just wouldn't want to take the chance. I don't particularly enjoy pulling my system apart on a regular basis, so I pay attention to install details and follow them to the letter.

I'm not saying that a long ground is doomed for failure - just increasing the risk.

Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to dispute what you're saying. All I'm saying is that if you have to lengthen the ground wire to reach a good grounding point that it would be indeed worth the risk. I would never run a ground wire LONGER than necessary. All I was saying is that in MY particular case it was necessary in order to reach my central "grounding location". And to increase his ground wires to reach a good location would "most likely" NOT mess anything up.

I am a firm believer that grounding EVERYTHING in your system to the same POINT will lessen the risk for noise as well.

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[TeenWolf 10+ year member]

I am a firm believer that grounding EVERYTHING in your system to the same POINT will lessen the risk for noise as well. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

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[desi_daru 10+ year member]

i grouned in the tire well in my old 98 cavi wen i had it

like ppl have said any bare metal (any metal at all basically, jus sand the sh*t outta it)

 

[FOSGATE JOE 10+ year member]

whats up jose did you fix that ground.I just moved my ground to my seat belt and it worked great allso mounted my amp to the back of my seat so i can show off my r.f power stuff when i pull the seats down will post soon

 

[JoseMCeee 10+ year member]

yea i think im going to just go with the idea REQ mentioned - the rear struts bolts. I found a bolt thats pretty close by to my amps and would work fine. I think Im just going to have to borrow some ratchet tools from some one to do it. Also would it be fine if I replace that regular nut with some kind of easy twist wing nut or whatever they are called? Like in REQs pic is the nut to the left not the main strut nut.

 

[JoseMCeee 10+ year member]

Hey I remember someone saying to scrape the paint completly off and then paint it so it doesnt rust. Is this a good idea? I cant remember who told me this. Im probably going to fix all the grounds today both under the hood and in the trunk.

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

Well, I don't know if I was the first one to say it but I did mention it in an earlier post in this thread. Yes, its a good idea. Not just your car doesn't have rust on it but so your ground stays good too.

 

[JoseMCeee 10+ year member]

im unsure of how to do this tho. U scrape it then paint it, then ground the wire? Or ground the wire then paint over it?

 

[TeenWolf 10+ year member]

Well, I don't know if I was the first one to say it but I did mention it in an earlier post in this thread. Yes, its a good idea. Not just your car doesn't have rust on it but so your ground stays good too.

X2

The area that you scrape will get VERY rusty in no time. Not only does it look bad, the rust doesn't conduct electricty well and will screw up your ground.

 

[TeenWolf 10+ year member]

im unsure of how to do this tho. U scrape it then paint it, then ground the wire? Or ground the wire then paint over it?

1. Scrape it

2. Ground the wire nice & tight

3. Paint over it

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[AndyB 10+ year member]

wanna buy a neon?

i believe he means neon=exterior lighting... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/uhoh.gif.c07307dd22ee7e63e22fc8e9c614d1fd.gif

 

[JoseMCeee 10+ year member]

1. Scrape it2. Ground the wire nice & tight

3. Paint over it

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsupwink.gif.129404938effda6ad9cca39e7f4b58a3.gif

any kind of paint will do? I have some Scratch fix paint stuff that covers up scratches. I has a brush so I can paint a pretty big area. Will that work?