do not underestimate the power of the ground

[LittleHorse]

So I finished up my audio install last night (200W/ch Hifonics amp on CDT Audio components, 1000W amp on dB Drive Platinum series 1000W RMS sub, sub install pending receipt of enclosure).

Put the negative battery terminal on, dome light comes on. I turn the key, domelight goes off, nothing happens. I spend the next 15 minutes fiddling around with cleaning the negative battery terminal and finally get the stereo to come on for about 2 minutes before the whole truck shuts down again.

I took off the whole negative battery cable tonight...and it's original. From 1990. Says Ford up the side of the wire insulation, which is broken in several places including 1" away from the clamp, which was wrapped in electrical tape that was hiding the fact that the wire was more white corroded powder than it was copper. Outstanding.

I'm amazed the truck was working at all. I've replaced cables on cars that weren't running because of the cable, and a lot of them looked brand new compared to this one. I bet it'll run like a champ when I get the transmission back in.

 

[Psychopete]

wrapped in electrical tape that was hiding the fact that the wire was more white corroded powder than it was copper. I bet it'll run like a champ when I get the transmission back in.

+1 a bad ground can cause some strange problems. I am blindly replacing my ground and positive cables when I get far enough into my V8 swap. They are original and full of corrosion as well.

Pete