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Ground Wire location for DC?

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Old Jun 28, 2009 | 09:58 PM
  #1  
MilanoRedDashR's Avatar
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Default Ground Wire location for DC?

My Amp in my gsr keeps shutting off. I'm pretty sure it's the ground wire, because I've had similar problems in other cars with the ground, and so I've narrowed it down to the ground wire. I don't know where to locate the Ground in the DC. Right now I'm just using a bolt under the carpet in the back, but obviously thats not the best. Is there something I need to know about the ground, or simply just find a better ground? ALso, what is the best bolt to use for the ground in our Integras? Thanks guys.
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Old Jun 28, 2009 | 10:11 PM
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Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

the stock bolts are decent have u tried sanding down to bare metal and using a thicker yet shorten gauge wire
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Old Jun 28, 2009 | 10:13 PM
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From: 99 probs but a stolen car aint 1, ca, cerritos/fullerton
Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

I doubt its the ground wire in the engine bay. List what consiest of your sound system. amps make and model and rating. Speakers and subs dvc and all. All grounds on the amps should be bolted down with its own bolt or screwed and the paint sanded down to metal.
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Old Jun 28, 2009 | 10:50 PM
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Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

Its just a ground to my rear amp. I'm going to try and sand down the paint and make its own bolt. sorry, should have been more specific. Right now it's just hooked up to one of the stock bolts.
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Old Jun 29, 2009 | 05:50 AM
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Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

You can use the stock bolt, [depending on where/what it is] as long as ground lead terminal is making direct contact, [bare metal] with the cars floor pan. 94
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Old Jun 29, 2009 | 10:51 AM
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Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

If I sanded down the paint, and used a self taper and a washer, would that be good?
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Old Jun 29, 2009 | 04:17 PM
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Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

I am no fan of self tappers, they break the rust barrier and because they are going into the thin metal of the cars floor board you can't put much torque on them so they tens to loosen up over time.

With that said a self tapper will work, but why drill a hole in your cars floor pan if you don't have to?

There are more then a few bolts and studs with nuts going into the cars floor pan I always use one of them, rear seat and seat belt bolts work great, just make sure the ground terminal, [ring terminal] is making contact with bare metal. 94
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Old Jun 29, 2009 | 11:47 PM
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Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

Originally Posted by fcm
I am no fan of self tappers, they break the rust barrier and because they are going into the thin metal of the cars floor board you can't put much torque on them so they tens to loosen up over time.

With that said a self tapper will work, but why drill a hole in your cars floor pan if you don't have to?

There are more then a few bolts and studs with nuts going into the cars floor pan I always use one of them, rear seat and seat belt bolts work great, just make sure the ground terminal, [ring terminal] is making contact with bare metal. 94
I did end up using the seat belt bolt. However, I was using that before and it didn't work good. This time I sanded off some of the paint and Hopefully that will work. I'm in my last effort, after this I'm taking it to an audio shop to have them set me up with a ground.
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 12:17 PM
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Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

what is the power RMS rating of your amp and what gauge of wire are you using? how long is your ground?
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 01:54 PM
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Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

Originally Posted by MilanoRedDashR
If I sanded down the paint, and used a self taper and a washer, would that be good?
should be ok
but you could have just used the bolt that holds your back seat down.
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 11:46 PM
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Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

Originally Posted by Tayter
what is the power RMS rating of your amp and what gauge of wire are you using? how long is your ground?
My ground wire is only about 2-3 feet long. And I'm not sure what gauge of wire I'm using to be honest. All I remember is that I bought wire that was rated to handle my set up. I'll look tomorrow and give all the details. I'm thinking that it is something other than my ground wire, because my ground is really solid.
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Old Jul 1, 2009 | 09:04 AM
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From: 99 probs but a stolen car aint 1, ca, cerritos/fullerton
Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

Originally Posted by wrx-killer-Sti-eater
List what consiest of your sound system. amps make and model and rating. Speakers and subs dvc and all.

?
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Old Jul 1, 2009 | 05:29 PM
  #13  
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Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

I'm going to list what I have as soon as I get the energy to check.
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Old Jul 1, 2009 | 06:34 PM
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Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

had same problem in my ls. i connected the ground wire to the bolt in the strut bar, worked great.


(not my pic but too lazy to go out to car)
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Old Jul 2, 2009 | 09:35 PM
  #15  
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Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

I think I know what bolt you used. I can't remember why I didn't use that, maybe because I didn't like how the wire looked.. I like it to look really clean. I guess I could run it all the way down, under the plastic, under the carpet, and then back up the small whole in the carpet in the center behind the seat.
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Old Jul 3, 2009 | 05:44 AM
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Default Re: Ground Wire location for DC?

Get us the rest of the info, amp model, wire gauge.

Although shock tower studs are OK they are not a direct connection to the cars floor pan and the best possible ground is to the cars floor pan.
Your ground is longer then preferable but it should not be the cause of your problem, if it can be shortened by rerouting or remounting the amp do so, under 18" is preferable although the shorter the better.

Question...
What type and size of fuse are you using on amps power lead?

Again...
Make and model of amp?
Make and model of speakers/sub(s) it is driving?
Gauge of power cable?
Type and size of fuse?

We really need the above questions answered to be able to help. 94
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