I grounded my XRS

[357wheelgunner]

I grounded my XRS.

I used an HKS Circle Earth kit that I paid $125 for. I bought the name brand one because it is a gold plated hub, instead of a bunch of wires daisy chained together. The instructions were in Japanese so I had to figure it out myself which was not too difficult.

My car now idles very smoothly and quietly, I have to check my tach to make sure the motor has not died! It starts much more easily in the cold. It revs easier and faster. No more backfiring when I let the engine slow me down in gear. It shifts easier, less vibrations when I land in the next gear. The best thing is taking off from a dead stop. I used to have to rev to 2K rpms or so or the engine would die, now I just let it out at 800rpms and it catches with no sputtering. It is even noticably smoother driving down the freeway, it used to sputter a bit when I'd accelerate in 6th gear @70mph, now it just hums and pulls.

I don't think it added any power, just made whatever was there before work better. I can really feel a difference during daily driving. It was worth every penny

Here's a few pics

Here is a pic of everything (I am painting my battery tie black tomorrow, it looks aweful red)


Here is where it grounds under the battery


Here is wehre it grounds to the intake manifold


Here is where it grounds to the driver side frame


Here is where it grounds to the engine (It's under a screw that holds the cover down)


Here is where it grounds to the frame on the passenger side


Here is where it grounds to the transmission.

[repinS]

all this from a grounding kit?

[PhantomS]

Originally Posted by repinS

all this from a grounding kit?

Yeah, really .... ummmm, if it were all that, I would think manufacturers would "ground" the cars right from the factory....gimme a break

[dawg]

I have never heard of this before.

[silver04rollas]

Nice. That is cool wheelgunner. Mod on.

[canadianae92]

Hey so is that the universal kit man? I was lookin at it before and was wondering if it'd do any good.

[Flashmn]

Just get some power wire for amplifiers (they have neon and shit for them), then some ends and make your own.

[canadianae92]

Originally Posted by Flashmn

Just get some power wire for amplifiers (they have neon and shit for them), then some ends and make your own.

Wah?

[Flashmn]

DIY grounding kit.

[357wheelgunner]

Originally Posted by canadianae92

Hey so is that the universal kit man? I was lookin at it before and was wondering if it'd do any good.

Yeah it's the HKS Circle Earth Universal Grounding Kit. You get a ton of wire with it, and cut and crimp it as you go. I knew nothing about electronics and was able to do it without too much trouble. Good thing too, the instructions were in Japanese.

I noticed a definate difference, nothing major but the car takes off much better now and runs better in general. What I really notice is in stop and go traffic where I used to have to rev to 2K rpms (Or it would die on me) I can now just let the clutch out and it catches and goes.

The reason that the manufacturers don't ground mroe is because of the cost of good wire times thousands of cars adds up. They don't do this for the same reason that all cars don't have heated mirrors....economy cars are the epitomy of cost cutting. Gotta love bean counters

What the hell is up with people on TN calling other people liars all the time?

[357wheelgunner]

Originally Posted by Flashmn

Just get some power wire for amplifiers (they have neon and shit for them), then some ends and make your own.

Yeah great idea

And when the wire you ran to your engine block melts and burns you can call me stupid for buying the proper equipment for the job.

Halfass jobs get halfass results, especially when it comes to cars.

[Flashmn]

Especially when the cable basically is the same. But hey, remember when you pay 150bucks for a set of cables, you have to get something special right?
I dont see how it would burn, unless you'd run it over the manifold. Engine doesnt get that hot, nor the fact that theres isnt current running in it enough to melt the cables either.

[357wheelgunner]

Instead of talking shit all the time why don't you find people who have done these things and ask them, instead of posting about how things should be from your ignorant perspective.

I know someone who grounded his civic with shitty amp cable and fried the wires. The engine block heats up, and any wire that is attached to it will heat up too. And when that happens shitty amp wire burns and melts and makes a stinky mess.

I don't know what is wrong with you Flash, you post all the time with nothing to contribute, just ignorant bitching that you can't back up.

Go away and leave us alone! Your opinions don't stand up to real results and linear logic.

If you don't believe what anyone says what is the point of participating on a forum anyway?

[Flashmn]

Why dont you go away, I joined this group long time before you were around, I've contributed alot to this whole forum, as my post number says and the fact that people have actually had success and with their engines/cars when i've helped them and actually have thanked me about it, in private or in the forums. I really dont have to prove myself to you.
Why I critisize about these things? Want the answer, because I hate "tuning companies" ripping off kids with empty promises about equipment that dont work elsewhere than Import magazines. Yes the truth hurts, but someone has to go against the masses, and I'm always that asshole. Which I guess it brought up because I have real life experience in dynoing, building, repairing, modifying REAL LIFE sportscars/rally cars/track cars. I never believe in magic in getting power, its all about physics.

The engine block heats up, and any wire that is attached to it will heat up too. And when that happens shitty amp wire burns and melts and makes a stinky mess.

engine heats up to abotu 90degrees celsius inside, the outerparts of the engine arent that hot, and it takes alot more than 90C to melt the amplifier cable insulation.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) melting point is 90-160C depending on the type
Silicone is 180C
Teflon 260C
If you're afraid of them melting, use heat resistant socks made from glassfibers that are used to insulate cables close to thermal sources.

[TokyoRacer]

Originally Posted by 357wheelgunner

Yeah great idea

And when the wire you ran to your engine block melts and burns you can call me stupid for buying the proper equipment for the job.

Halfass jobs get halfass results, especially when it comes to cars.

Oh shit..I better take my amp wire outta my engine bay then. and buy some suepr wires for in my engine bay...I mena..all the rubber hoses and shit in my engine are okay but I betetr not put a a palsticyrubber wrapped wire in there if it didn't cost me 150 bucks.