Additional Earths

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ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90

Active Member
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Hi

I have a 1995 defender 300tdi. The main battery earth to the chassis is very poor, even in good condition. So I'm looking to fit additional earth's around the engine.

I'm hoping it will relieve some electrical faults I have like slow starting and incorrect temperate gauge.

I've done lots of searching, and unfortunately electrics isn't my strong point.

Where would you suggest to fit additional earth's on the vehicle? And what size cable is required?

I was thinking of coming off one of the bolts on the starter motor, to the chassis rail? I'd like to fit another one but have no idea where.

Thanks, and sorry if this seems a stupid question. I just want it to be worthwhile.
 
Haven't done it to this 90 yet, but on my series I just bought a few earth straps and bolted them engine to chassis, chassis to gearbox, body to chassis in a few places. All you need are two decent nuts and bolts and add as many as you like, making sure you clean the connectors and earth point as well as you can .. ;) It made a huge difference.

Did the same to the caravan too and keep meaning to do it to this one, but time and GAF keeps getting in the way.
 
Cheers Paul. I can't believe how poor the earth strap is to the chassis on the defenders. 3 defenders I've known now around the same age have exactly the same issue.

I'm just not sure where to put the earth's on a 300tdi for the best results?

How thick should the earth cable be? And is there anything I can use to protect the earth from corrosion?
 
The standard earth cable arrangement is fit for purpose as long as the cables and earth points are kept in good condition. If you have poor condition cables just replace them like for like and ensure all mounting points are clean metal and all nuts / bolts and washers are new. If the original arrangement lasted for 15 / 20 years then there is nothing wrong with the design, just a natural deterioration of the cables.
 
Kwakerman said:
The standard earth cable arrangement is fit for purpose as long as the cables and earth points are kept in good condition. If you have poor condition cables just replace them like for like and ensure all mounting points are clean metal and all nuts / bolts and washers are new. If the original arrangement lasted for 15 / 20 years then there is nothing wrong with the design, just a natural deterioration of the cables.
Click to expand...

Cheers kwakerman. I've not long purchase a new main cable. But I'd still like to fit additional ones to play it safe. I've read a few times that you can never have too many earth's. So just one or two additional ones would be ideal, they aren't expensive.

I just don't know where to put them for the best
 
The problem is if the earth from battery to chassis isn't making a good connection you could have 100 earth straps from the engine to the chassis and they would all be pointless, so make sure the battery to chassis connection is good.
One strap from the engine to the chassis might help but really you shouldn't need it. Gear box wise, its connected to the engine (in a big way) so its a bit pointless putting an earth strap on it as well as the engine.
There are more important earthing points than putting a strap on the engine, from memory there are two on the front lighting harness (one each side) and the same on the rear that can cause problems, but don't fix what isn't broken.
 
nobber said:
The problem is if the earth from battery to chassis isn't making a good connection you could have 100 earth straps from the engine to the chassis and they would all be pointless, so make sure the battery to chassis connection is good.
One strap from the engine to the chassis might help but really you shouldn't need it. Gear box wise, its connected to the engine (in a big way) so its a bit pointless putting an earth strap on it as well as the engine.
There are more important earthing points than putting a strap on the engine, from memory there are two on the front lighting harness (one each side) and the same on the rear that can cause problems, but don't fix what isn't broken.
Click to expand...

Thanks Nobber. I hadn't seen this.

Good point well made regarding the chassis earth. The main reason for me looking into the earth's is due to my vdo temp gauge reading higher than the actual temperature of the engine (another thread a few days back). I've had it before which was an earth fault, and the exact same is happening again.
 
Strapping the engine to the chassis probably wont help that problem I wouldn't have thought.
 
I'd put an additional earth point onto the bulkhead if you are having gauge issues. This should help many other circuits, which use the main earth points on the bulkhead.
 
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