Did my own ground wire kit last night using 8-ga Lightning Audio wire and gold connectors. (More bored than because I expect massive gains.) It's probably just my imagination, but it seems like the car pulls more smoothly, and it did significantly lessen the alt whine coming through my SNHOND3 (yes, it has a GLI). Anyway, it was something to do while my wife was at work and the kids were in bed.

No, joerocket, I don't have a before/after dyno. Hey, if it feels like it made a difference, for $20 worth of wire/connectors/zip ties, what does it hurt?

I would have installed my short shifter instead (when looking for something to do), but I'm still waiting for the shifter bushing kit so I don't have to tear the console apart twice. Anyway, the ground wires feel like they smooth things out and maybe they're worth a couple hp.

 

I see my reputation is preceding myself...

 

any before/after dyno???

oh, and go hit the track and post time slips too...

 

yes come on get us some times slips man stop slacking

oh any you knew it was coming

 

I knew it was coming. I'll post some pics. Joe, I will head to the dyno shop soon, I promise. Problem is, since my last dyno I've done headers, CAI, and now the super-horsepower grounding kit.

 

i saw the grounding kits on ebay, do they really work?
also, why are there like 7-8 wires, you gotta hook all those up to the frame?

 

General concensus... no

 

You bolt wires to various (to me, seemingly random) parts of the engine. Alternator, engine mount, block, head, strut tower, tranny linkage, horn bearing, etc.

The car seems to be more responsive and smooth. It starts more easily, too -- that was a sore point with me -- and the alt whine coming through my SNHOND3 has dissipated.

 

I did mine last year.... I was going crazy and I used 4 guage and 2 guage wires....ok, those things were more like thin metal rods than wires... took me 10 mintutes to cut one anyway, in the first two days after I've done it, I felt like the car was smoother and the 5AT was more responsive.... but after a week (and now a year), I've concluded it was just my imagination.... However, I think I'm missing one of the key grounds, which is the ECU ground which I couldn't find at that time. I'm sure the extra grounds helps somewhat (esp if you look at some of the factory grounds), but probably not enough to any effect which you can feel.

 

I think the key grounds are the (-) terminal of the battery to chasis, alternator, engine head, engine block, transmission case, ECU (all to (-) terminal of battery).

 

I think it's not enough of a difference that you continue to feel it. Kind of like Hondata; when I first got the reflash, I thought, "Wow. it pulls harder and more smoothly!" Now, after 6 months I'm so used to it I don't really feel it.

My first impression of the additional ground wires was smoother and more responsive. Worth $25 in the same vein as the shift cable bushings -- don't know if they really make a discerible difference, but for the price they make me happy. I used the 25 feet of wire like this from Car Domain and 8-ga gold connectors like these .

 

Could anyone explain where the ECU ground is? I have been planning on doing a homemade ground kit for a while, just to have something cheap to do to my car.

Thanks