Changes After Grounding Kit Install?

[Protege5Gurly]

For those of you who have installed a grounding kit (any brand) ... what have been your most noticeable changes in the way the car acts?

I ask this because before I installed the kit my idle would be around 7-900 rpms .... now im running around 3-400 rpms.

Ive also noticed the car runs alot smoother and my stereo doesnt make the headlights dim quite as much. Plus, the alternator whine has gone away.

Pe@ce

 

[KYMP5]

pm kyredp5, hes got the kit and will tell you what you want to know.

 

[changedman]

only 3-400 rpms? geesh i'd think that would stall it

 

[changedman]

did u adjust the idle speed or something too?

 

[irish6714]

Mine idles smoother. Pulls a little harder. I get better gas milage

 

[banned bandit]

how easy is it to install the grounding kit....can somebody with basic cAR knowlegde install it????

 

[KYMP5]

very simple to install. may take a little time but very easy.

 

[Matthew]

ive got craigs...i noticed not one difference, but then again i dont have a system either.

 

[uclap5]

i got a nice bump in milage. seems ever so slightly smoother with slightly less off throttle lashing (though could be my imagination)

my idle is the same.

 

[erockp5]

Something is wrong if the engine idle is 3-400. The idle is fixed and unless you adjust the throttle(hard to do by accident) it won't change except when you use the A/C. The range is listed at 700-750rpm, 750-800 with A/C. Are you sure you did not miss connect something?

I grounded the intake manifold, head, and fuse box(engine compartment). There is some difference(the ones you noted), but the idle is something to check into.

 

[Protege5Gurly]

Trust me, I didnt do anything wrong in grounding. My wires go :

Pass Chassis -> Cyl Head -> Intake Manifold -> Tranny -> Battery -> Factory Ground -> Driver Chassis

When the car is in PARK, my idle is still 7-800 but when in Drive (auto tranny) and im sitting at a traffic light it drops down to approx 400 and stays there. Car runs fine, no stuttering or stalling --- just really smooth and quiet.

So no, I didnt adjust the idle screw at all.

Pe@ce

 

[slenser]

Alright people. Now I want you to take a CLOSE look at your tach and tell me how you would be able to tell if it was reading 300-400 RPMs.

I say this because the very first mark is for 500 RPMs. Mmmkay?

 

[1Canuck2]

P5Gurly, I noticed the same thing. I have a P5 automatic (sportamtic) and after installing my homemade groundwire kit, my idle went down to ~500rpm (used to be 900 -1000 or so and more erratic).

It also is a lot smoother and quieter when idling. It shifts a lot smoother as well both on the up and down shift.

I love how some dispute what others observe. I made a single change to my car, and this WAS the result. While I am a newb to car modding, I am not an incompetent buffoon and did not mess with my idle either, yet it idles at a lower rpm. The idle is obviously not fixed, because the gw kit lowered it.

If you are interested, check out the thread about my groundwire install (with pics) in which others also agree that the idle lowered and shifts got smoother.

Perhaps this isn't everyone's experience with a gw kit, but it seems to be the experience of enough people to not need to be challenged everytime someone says thats what happened.

BTW slenser, my tach starts a 300rpm not 500 rpm (I am in Canada, so perhaps the crap Canadian exchange rate applies to rpms as well )

Thanks

 

[slenser]

BTW slenser, my tach starts a 300rpm not 500 rpm (I am in Canada, so perhaps the crap Canadian exchange rate applies to rpms as well )

Thanks

That damn metric system, I tell ya!
(crazy)

 

[scott42]

smoother idle (doesn't bump around like it used to), no dimming of headlights that I have yet to see, and better milage even with my yakima rack on (which is just plain odd) I think it was very worth it.