Engine ground to frame to battery

[James Morse]

There's been more than one time where I started chasing things only to find out it was so simple as a bad ground. So, I'm all for making sure it's good.
I always double-check polarity as I'm hooking up charger or jumpers, one time long ago ('08?) I hooked charger up backwards (momentarily) and I think it fried my stereo (Saab).

 

[Curious Hound]

I think this is about electricity, not baseball.

Sorry. That joke went over my head like the SR71. High and fast.

 

[oldgeek]

I also get where you were trying to take that joke. But, like a pop fly to Clemente back in the day, you’re out.

Oh sure, rain on my parade. Just because your observation of my attempts are so.....realistic.

 

[Bill]

You should run a cable directly to the engine. The path through the chassis and frame goes through joints and bolts that may not be a low-resistance connection, and may be intermittent as everything flexes and moves around. The end result could be intermittent engine performance issues due to voltage drops. Especially if there is a higher load on that path. There are plenty of posts in auto forums wherein some strange charging or engine performance problem that defied all logical troubleshooting was resolved after cleaning up or tightening a ground connection. You don't have to use "battery" cable. There are cheaper cables you can buy and install the connectors/clamps on. Just make sure it is a sufficient gauge to handle the maximum load from the battery to the engine. That load is likely to be the starter motor.