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I have just put in a rebuilt ea82t engine in my wagon, and i can remember were i connect the earth lead to i had a look in my manual but cant find it there. Also the earth strap from the car body to the motor when i went to start it, it got hot and could see a little bit of smoke coming of it? what have i done wrong? Any help would be great.

sounds like you need more earthing.

usually go one from the battery to the body, body to motor.

im no electrical guru but someone will be able to say for sure.

alex

you need to have 2 earth straps both should be no smaller than 5mm in diameter, preferably between 5mm and 10mm in diameter. one goes from the battery directly to the body the other goes from the battery directly to the engine.

Subaru has this thing about earthing to one of the heads, I earth directly to the block as this gives a better earth to the engine

Ensure your earth straps are in good condition and if not replace them with good quality straps (if they are smoking they aren't up to the job)

TOONGA

Thanks guys, i will try that today and keep you updated. Cheers

Think they go from battery neg to a threaded tab on the LHS front rocker cover then from there to the body - factory. My pos was smokin the other day or steaming. I needed to clean up the contact faces of the terminal where it clamped the cable - had gone a bit blackish.

steptoe wrote:Think they go from battery neg to a threaded tab on the LHS front rocker cover then from there to the body - factory. My pos was smokin the other day or steaming. I needed to clean up the contact faces of the terminal where it clamped the cable - had gone a bit blackish.

Yeah I think Ruby Scoo was the same when I got her. Now she's got two or three to the body (collected from numerous engine changes I think ) and at least one fat cable to the bellhousing/block of the EJ...

I don't know what rating these are as they're all factory cables.

Cheers

Bennie

another look at 'a turbo EA82 car' has fat earth diretc to block at starter motor and any other electrical gets its earth via an earth strap from LHS front head to body strap

steptoe wrote:another look at 'a turbo EA82 car' has fat earth diretc to block at starter motor and any other electrical gets its earth via an earth strap from LHS front head to body strap

Yep.. as close to the starter motor as possible. Although aluminium is a good conductor it's not the best, so you will get volt drop if you don't keep it near the starter.

Also it's good to make sure the 2 earths (like Jonno mentioned) go from the battery to the engine and the other to the body of the car. Another good idea is to make sure the contact between the lug and body are clean and once connected, spray some corrosion protection on them.