How is a 1.8 petrol engine earthed?

I had a problem starting: just a single clunk from the solenoid but no cranking when the key was turned. Replaced the starter motor, which now whirred but still failed to crank the engine. A recovery mechanic got it firing up by putting a makeshift earth strap from a random point on the engine casing to the chassis, so clearly the engine earth was faulty.

Now it starts up fine, but I'd like to get to the bottom of the problem and sort out the earth proper. Is there a main strap? Or is it meant to be connected through the engine mountings etc? The battery's -ve connection to the chassis (two cables) look good. All the other electrics work fine.

Any help much appreciated.

Think it has an earth lead to the gearbox......

the mighty haynes manual states "disconnect the earth lead from the left hand end of the gear box"

(page 2d.4, section 4, part 8)

spot on chaser

That figures... I had just had reconditioned gearbox put in, but hadn't connected it to the starting problem!

Thanks for the info.

That was lucky then. Once upon a time you would here of such things leading to the throttle cable lighting up as it had to take the juice from the starter.