Battery Earth point help needed!!

[walshie]

Hi guys,
Need people's opinions on something.....

To cut a long story short, I bought a new battery cos the old one was dud (and too bloody small in the 1st place).

Positioned it in the space no problems, tried to connect up the cables and they wouldn't reach, terminals were in a different place. So I managed to get the positive to reach and after much fettling and a lot of swearing (and I mean A LOT of swearing!!) I rerouted the earth cable and have now finally got the 2 cables to reach.

however....
to do this I had to unscrew the earth point closest to the battery and now, with the cable rerouted I can't get the bracket to the original earth point. The only potential earth point within range is the engine itself!! (or more specifically a bolt near the top of the engine which holds the intercooler on top of the engine. Is it ok to use that as an earth point? I know it would be better to get to the chassis somewhere but in my head logic is telling me it's a common earth so it should work ok anyway?

all advice gratefully recieved - I really don't want to walk to work tomorrow, it's toooo cold!

 

[JimmyJaffa]

You have fitted the wrong battery:doh as it sounds like the polls are the wrong way round and that you are trying to stretch the cables over the battery. 1 solution, get the correct battery.:thumb2

 

[makeitfit]

You have fitted the wrong battery:doh as it sounds like the polls are the wrong way round and that you are trying to stretch the cables over the battery. 1 solution, get the correct battery.:thumb2

He's right but there's a cheaper fix:sly
Buy another earth strap from your motor factors, bolt that to the earth terminal aswell as the original, then bolt the end of the new one to the original earth point. simples

 

[JimmyJaffa]

But he's just bought the battery. just take it back and swap it. no need to mod yet. lol.

 

[makeitfit]

But he's just bought the battery. just take it back and swap it. no need to mod yet. lol.

Good point

 

[walshie]

can't take the battery back cos I bought it online! big problem returning batteres to nline vendors because couriers don't like to take them (chap had work had big problems when he did the same)

Excellent advice to add a second earth strap! I'll try and do that tomorrow! cheers! :clap

still curious as to whether you can take an earth point from the engine though! lol, should work cos it'd be grounded aswell I presume?

 

[makeitfit]

The engine is earthed FROM the body/ground. It's mounted on dirty great lumps of rubber (engine mounts):doh The earth that the starter needs and alternator etc want wouldn't be man enough to handle them so frying 'iccle wires very likely

 

[walshie]

aaahhh yes I'd forgotten about the engine mounts! :doh:doh

cheers for the advice, I should be able to get it sorted now!

matt

 

[zippy656]

what..

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