Don't overlook the grounds...

[steved]

Just an FYI, don't overlook grounds when looking for gremlins... here's what I noted:



All grounds on the fenders are bolts into an aluminum "pop-rivet plug" into the steel fender... galvanic corrosion? Not to mention they never removed the paint from the plugs before hooking the wires up! I fully intend to add a good known ground wire of my own between these and the battery, so I know its grounded.



The grounds on anything aluminum was corroded... badly. I can't understand how the firewall computer even worked.



Most of the ground wires were not soldered to their respective connectors... this took a little bit of work since the connections and wiring was already dirty.



After cleaning grounds and adding a few, the truck even idles smoother... I could see where they could cause gremlins, so don't forget them especially if you live in a snow/salt state.

 

[JJPage]

Steved, because I am familiar with you, I know you have a 3rd gen, what happened to your sig? So everyone knows the vehicle you are refering to.

 

[steved]

Hmmm, must be because I am using a blackberry?



I believe this would apply to any 3rd gen, but mine is specifically an 04. 5.

 

[brods]

Good tip.



When removing the ground bolt on the drivers fender by hood hinge, even though the truck was off, the wipers cycled once. Bad or missing grounds do cause weird things to happen.

 

[mconstable]

Thanks for the heads up Steved... I know electrical gremlins can manifest in all kinds of ways... what was your truck doing?

Thanks!

 

[steved]

Thanks for the heads up Steved... I know electrical gremlins can manifest in all kinds of ways... what was your truck doing?

Thanks!

It was doing nothing out of ordinary... was adding wiring for driving lights and the ground caught my eye when I was loosening it to add a ground for a relay. I then realized there were several more of them... and it snowballed...