How To: DIY Ground Wire Kit

[Gro Harlem]

How-To: Make and install your own GROUND WIRE KIT

I just made and installed my own "Hyper Ground Wire kit"!! It cost me $48 shipped for the wire and terminals and about 1.5 hours to make and install the wires.

Here is the How-to write up:

http://www.protegenetwork.org/pro/1stgen/articles/howto/groundwire/

What do you think?

 

[L8R]

very interesting to read and look at. hmm i may think about doing it now. good job man. any noticeable gain in hp or torque? - chris

 

[dominoy2k1]

nice i will have to do this really soon....

 

[Murda]

Did you idle drop? By how much?

 

[Ryan]

very nice, i'll definately be doign this cheap and easy t0 do.

 

[Gro Harlem]

i'm not going to say anything about power without dyno'ing the car b/c I simply can't tell if its throttle response or a actual power increase. I can tell a differnece in how the car drives. It seems to pull harder in the midrange. I don't rev my car more than I have to because of its age and mileage, so I can't reallly comment on anything above 5000rpm.


The idle is the same, but it doesn't vibrate the steering wheel like it used to. It only does it when the a/c comp kicks on, but just breifly.

I also noticed my subs don't dim my headlights hardly at all if I turn it ALL the way up. Back when I first installed my system I used to blast the sub and my headlights would dim noticeably. I never do this to begin with so it isn't a problem for me, but its something to note if you have a insane stereo system. I had to park my car, and shine the lights at a building to see the lights dim, and even then, it was difficult to see.

My headlights seem to be about the same, i don't really know for sure if they are "brighter" but other people seem to have good luck with their lights getting brighter as a result of this mod.

 

[RX-KEVIN]

I would recomend doing this to any car I made one for mine for about 27 dollars using gold plated terminals and 10 gauge wire. I noticed a difference, engine seemed to work smoother

 

[Bijou-MP5]

where did you get the wires and terminals?

 

[Gro Harlem]

I would recomend doing this to any car I made one for mine for about 27 dollars using gold plated terminals and 10 gauge wire. I noticed a difference, engine seemed to work smoother

Yeah i met you at the meet. I was the one asking you about your MSP right before we left. Your kit inspired me to make my own...but i used 4-gauge wire.


I bought all the s*** off ebay. I already had the battery terminal from a different stereo install.


Just search ebay for "4 gauge amp kit" for the wiring, and "4 gauge terminals" for the terminals. I bought the $3.75 "stinger" terminals and a "blue/silver amp kit". But you can get red colored kits for about $5 cheaper if you look.

Make sure you compare shipping prices. They like to rape you on shipping for these amp kits. I paid $8.50 for shipping which is about right b/c it is heavier than most things you typically buy (like 7 lbs). A lot of the assholes on ebay try to charge $20 for shipping a friggin amp kit via UPS ground! Mine was shipped next day air for some reason.......:shrug:

 

[Gro Harlem]

I'm home now for Carlisle, and I just filled my tank up.

To my surprise. I travelled 172.2 miles on 5.412 gallons, which translates into 31.8mpg. The highest I've gotten prior to this was 30.9, so there is an obvious improvement in fuel economy as a result of these wires.

And just to clarify...when I travel home, I travel from an altitude of 1500 ft to about 50 ft which may or may not be a factor. I travel through mountainous valley's and crap, and always seem to get 2mpg better on the way home than the way up to school.

Also, I didn't have the a/c on...just my stereo at normal volume and my blower fan on at "1" blowing cool fresh air into the car. I was averaging about 65mph and wasn't driving hard at all during the whole trip.

I normally average 29.5 on this trip and about 28.5 on the way back up to school. I document every time I fill up with gas and keep track of my fuel economy religiously. I'll post any updates when I fill my car up next.

 

[Bijou-MP5]

thanks bunch Gro Harlem

 

[Bijou-MP5]

how about this one?

14.95 each but $14.00 for delivery?

and for terminasl

 

[Bijou-MP5]

and this is what you have right?

 

[Bijou-MP5]

or get this ground wire kit for $35+shipping

 

[Bijou-MP5]

better picture

 

[kidkorrupt]

cool how-to!

so thats what the fuss about ground wires is al about =D

 

[Bijou-MP5]

whats good about custom made kit and ground wire kit in ebay?

 

[Gro Harlem]

did you guys even read my how-to? It answers all your questions

 

[ShadowSE]

Would it be just as benificial to route the wires in replacement fashion to the stock wires? Or is the stock location part of the problem? Any components that I should attach ground wires to that wouldn't normaly see them?

 

[slenser]

I think Bijou-MP5 was asking if there was a benefit in making your own compared to the kits available from ebay.

I would rather run blue wires, but he ebay kits are very hassle free. There are no blue wire kits on ebay.

Has anyone done a dyno comparison on this?