Author Topic: ground burned up (Read 6990 times)

sethyboy85 · « **on:** May 29, 2007, 04:20:52 am »

so my glow plug relay went and the ground on the starter burned itself (thinking culprit)
so I made a new ground and put another relay in, no start just sparks from positive so I replace starter solenoid and try again same thing.

SO im thinking since the ground wire on the starter deteriated and is all rusted (went digging with screw driver where ground went in) I need a new starter and possibly another relay since I might of fubered the one I have?

Doug · « **Reply #1 on:** May 29, 2007, 05:42:12 am »

Not likely, but you will need a new ground connection from the battery to the motor and starting motor as well as to a solid part of the chassis. Check your fusible links as well. I recommend replacing the cable completely. Often the ground cables corrrode inside the crimped connectors on the ends of the cable. I have seen the copper conductor corrode to an open circuit inside the plastic/rubber jacket with no visible evidence of a problem. Check it all for continuity while wiggling it back and forth. Remember that a corroded part of a cable will cary a light load but when called on for full current will simply not be able to deliver. Replace and clean all terminal sites and cover with an anti corrosion grease. Do all this BEFORE you buy more new parts!

Doug · « **Reply #2 on:** May 29, 2007, 09:51:19 am »

Thanks for that clarification, Andrew. I still think that it is a good idea for all diesel and heavy current draw starters for a ground wire to the starter. I have a Toyota Land Cruiser diesel that has the ground direct to the starter. It also has chassis and motor grounds too. The older a vehicle gets the cruddier all those internal connections can be. Do you really want to rely on a rusted chassis and oil soaked motor and transmission cases to provide that essential pathway at only 12 volts DC?

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #3 on:** May 29, 2007, 02:03:30 pm »

Can't really have too many grounds on a VW... or a diesel.... or both.

I have 4 big-ass ones: from the tranny, the starter, the stock one to the chassis, and the alternator. Each one makes a measurable difference in the voltage drop of the system over all (my voltmeter has a switch so I can keep an eye on ground health).

The only pain is when pulling the engine... more stuff to unbolt.

Vince

Doug · « **Reply #4 on:** May 29, 2007, 05:47:25 pm »

Sounds like you have had bad grounding once too, Vince. Right on with extra connections!

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #5 on:** May 29, 2007, 06:01:36 pm »

She has to start at minus 40 (that's the same in f or c) and I like bright headlights !!

Vince

sethyboy85 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 29, 2007, 08:21:24 pm »

going to entirely replace the cable... is running the ground to near the shifter a okay place for a ground? the one to the trany/block is kinda fubered and I ran one to there along wtih from starter to that spot in hopes of getting to work.

Will replace ground entirely, check.. then try to recheck wiring from relay to plugs, side note my glow plug light isn't lighting up with all this nonsense either...

I have a new relay to put in along with starter if all else fails, hopefully I won't need to use the starter but I have to do what I have to do to get the car to start for me

sethyboy85 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 30, 2007, 08:22:46 pm »

New starter, new GLow plug relay and new ground to tranny (not next to block but on tranny top) will move to top tomorrow.... click was all I got out of it!

argh

any idea before ripping all the wiring apart after I find the Volt meter

oh yeah the 171 919 433
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHIME-RELAY-RABBIT-GOLF-JETTA-VANAGON-FOX_W0QQitemZ300053366286QQcmdZViewItem
was burnt smell the day the ground wire on the solenoid to starter went and all my problems began...

sethyboy85 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2007, 07:00:22 am »

what if I got push buttons to run the glow plugs and the starter, that way it's not a switch that I might forgot to turn off and faster to release when engine catches?

BlackTieTD · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2007, 08:47:38 am »

i'm just throwing this out there since it was the cause of some headaches for me this past winter when i had similar problems: ignition switch??

you can jump power to the starter solenoid with a screwdriver from the hot terminal on the starter, and make sure you give power to the injection pump... maybe glow plugs if you need them in your temps. then you can try starting the car bypassing the (broken??) ignition switch.

clicking only seems like bad ground to me. throw some extra grounds on, can't hurt. see if it helps.

saurkraut · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2007, 09:13:45 am »

There are trans bolts on newer VWs that have a 10mm stud poking out of the head of the bolt. I put one of those in the forward top holes on the trans and ran a big fat ground to it from the neg terminal of the battery.

sethyboy85 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2007, 06:56:26 pm »

my dad said same thing ignition switch and with 270k it might of also burned up considering the courtesy buzzer fried so I might end up with a couple of switches to run the car and key only in the ignition to still turn on the stereo and keep the wheel free (?)

BlackTieTD · « **Reply #12 on:** May 31, 2007, 07:51:01 pm »

just replace the switch. aftermarket ones are like $12. i would try to keep it as original as possible and don't monkey with all these switches or you'll just have more problems later. it makes for hilarious stories but its just not the right thing to do IMO. man you don't want to know how many people who have told me "hey i used to have one of those things! i had all these switches in there since the electrics always broke. it was like an airplane!" and its only funny the first like 5 times. :lol:

burn_your_money · « **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2007, 07:58:27 pm »

when I got my car deleting all the extra switches was the first thing I did. It's much better that way I've found

mac.man25 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2007, 10:29:14 pm »

My Subaru had switches, but only because the ignition lock was borked and wouldn't turn off without sitting there with the engine running and the car leaking into the cabin and making you dizzy and sleepy and dead.

Yea. My Subaru had switches. And that was good.

Author Topic: ground burned up (Read 6990 times)

Doug

Doug

Doug