Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

Loose ground wire

Old Oct 29, 2005 | 09:18 PM
  #1  
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From: colorado
Car: 1992 Trans/am convertible
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 drum WS6
Loose ground wire

Alright, after whole bunch of testing and replacing I found that my battery ground (negative) cable was loose on the block.
My car went from a champ to a slugger in matter of minutes, and since than I've been trying to trouble shoot it.
Now I got it tightened and my starting is working great again, however, I've been sluggish on the bottom end. I've messed with the TV cable and got the car to perform a lot better, but its still off.

I am just wondering if loose negative cable could cause some damage to the ECM???

Just one day my car got sluggish and the IAC started opening a lot to where it was hissing bad, and the car was just slow.
The idle was bad to, so I went replacing everything.

IAC,TPS,CTS,re-build throttle body, new injectors, new distributor, new cap and rotor(MSD)and coil(MSD), new pluggs and wires. Set the timing to 4 advanced and my fuel pressure is good.
The car works good sometimes, but most of the time the idle is somewhat erratic but it does not move much. Goes aroun 700-750-600RPMS when I idle quite fast.

I am just wondering if the ECM could be doing this???

I set everything to specs, timing, gaps etc. so my ignition is in perfect new condition.
My pressure is good, and the cone is perfect.

Would a loose batt. ground mess with ECM, or should I be looking at something else.
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Old Oct 30, 2005 | 10:04 AM
  #2  
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The ECM does everything. It chops. It slices. It dices. It grates. It peels...

Now that you have a good connection at the case, disconnect teh battery and closely inspect the positive connection ant the starter, and the fusible links. Double check the wiring harness grounds at the rear of the engine.

That should take about enough time to clear the ECM RAM. Restart the engine, allow it to warm up, then go driving to "teach" the ECM once again. The loose ground could have affected that.
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Old Oct 31, 2005 | 02:59 PM
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From: colorado
Car: 1992 Trans/am convertible
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 drum WS6
This is one more of those horror stories Vader.

Before my car started messing up, I heard clicking and spark as I was starting it. Than once it totally started crapping on me there was no clicking nor spark, but the starting was pretty hard. At one point in time I heard some clicking coming from the ECM, like there was a short, but that went away too.

Where in the back would the grounds be located???

I really think that I need to replace the ECM. Once I get some time I will take it out and see what happened.

If the ECM is faulty or a resistor went out, would I be experiencing driveability problems.

the only reason I am suspecting something electrical is because I checked everything else, and replaced almost everything else. The car works way better now that I messed with the TV cable allowing for faster shifts just so it can keep the bogging to a minimum. Its very hesitant of the start if I mash it, but once it picks up its fine. Than if I let go of gas and let it drop to about 20mph, it will get really boggy on me up till about 40mph or so.
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