DIY Ground Wires R18 Civic

[RobSBP]

Cost: $25

Time: about 1 Hour

benefit:
Increased Torque
Increased Horse Power (1 to 2 HP)
Better MPG
Improved Throttle Response
Engine Starts Easier
Reduced Audio Noise
Improved Engine kick Over & Idle

Tools:
knife cuter
Socket wrench size 8mm and 10mm
Tongue and groove plier
Metal sheet cuter
Flat head screw driver
20 ft 8 guage wire
Shrink tube
8 Grage Ring terminal connectors
#8 - #2 Str Offset Terminal Lug (HomeDepot)
Sand paper


Start step, disconnect battery from ground terminal.

1
From the photo, we will install all new Wires connect to ground.


1/ Ground -> Chassis near driver side headlight (optional, It come stock already)
2/ Chassis -> Engine mount
3/ Ground -> Alternator
4/ Ground -> Cylinder head
5/ Ground -> Throttle Body
6/ Ground -> Transmission

Get a knife cuter to strip wires about half inch. Insert striped wire in the connector. Use plier to clamp wire and connector. You can also do soldering if you like.

This is ground wire to throttle body

Use a sand paper to remove paint from the chassis (#2 wire).

This is how they look under engine cover

Put shrink tube on wires. Strip ground cables about 1.5" then insert into the copper offset terminal. Use flat head screw driver to clamp those wire down. I reuse stock terminal nut that already come with the car.

Another chassis location need to be sand.

Use tie strips to secue ground wires together. Reconnect ground terminal to battery. Done!

Please idle the car for 15 minutes for ECU to relearn again.

 

[webby]

thanks for the diy!

 

[Pauly99to17]

I have seen several photos of cars in Thailand with many wires like you have done here. I was always curious what they were for.
Can you explain how these ground wires help to produce extra HP and torque. I don't understand. Thanks.

 

[RobSBP]

These ground wires provides direct ground path from battery negative to chassis, and engine components to improve electrical circulation. That include spark plugs, injectors and so on.
Better sparks from spark plugs will increase power. If power drops because of poor electrical circulation, they get less sparks. Direct ground wire should prevent that from happening.
Stable fuel deliver system from injectors keep them running at optimal performance too.
Alternator charges more efficiently and quicker because of direct ground current.
So far, the engine start easier and idle much smoother. You will notice right away when you start driving again. The car feel a little more responsive but still too early to call. I need to do some more driving.

 

[webby]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3EFGlHPFDk

 

[Pauly99to17]

Why don't manufacturers just wire it this way to begin with?

 

[Bulkybear]

Hmm. The whole sysyem is a circuit. Some things are positive switched some are negative switched. Aren't you afraid your circumventing the circuit by adding multiple ground paths?

 

[Monk]

Why don't manufacturers just wire it this way to begin with?

MONEY!!!

 

[RobSBP]

Hmm. The whole sysyem is a circuit. Some things are positive switched some are negative switched. Aren't you afraid your circumventing the circuit by adding multiple ground paths?

Stock ground paths are still there. Additional ground paths are added for more efficient. It been a week after installed. So far so good.

 

[Pauly99to17]

MONEY!!!

$25?
Probably a lot cheaper to have the needed parts because it's all bought in bulk.

Let's say it costs Honda an additional $40 when you factor in the very inexpensive parts and the expensive labour (this job looks so quick to do I didn't add much money for labour), wouldn't that be a worthwhile investment to make the car run smoother and with better fuel economy etc.?

 

[webby]

If it did cost $40, that'd equate to around 10 million dollars a year for the civic to be done (based on yearly civic sales).

 

[Pauly99to17]

If it did cost $40, that'd equate to around 10 million dollars a year for the civic to be done (based on yearly civic sales).

True.
Better fuel economy could result in better sales though.

 

[squiggy]

Yeah, when dealing in volume, the cost at the micro level is largely irrelevant. It is all about adding value that the customer is willing to pay for. Their cost of $40 could easily equate to an increased cost of $100 on the car. They will base the sales price of the car on all kinds of information and design the car around what the consumer is willing to pay. This would not exactly be something the vast majority of potential buyers would rank above many other options as far as added value.

 

[squiggy]

True.
Better fuel economy could result in better sales though.

Civics already have great fuel economy for their class. Otherwise, see my previous comment.

 

[Twitch]

Where did you ground to the transmission?

 

[RobSBP]

Behind battery about 2 feet deep. You will see a wire with bolt.

 

[Twitch]

Thanks. Maybe I'll give this a shot in the morning. I should have all this stuff lying around.

 

[Monk]

OCD Alert.....
One thing I'd suggest for anyone that wants to do this........ use the proper color for"ground" wires, according to the cars wiring schematics.

 

[RobSBP]

Hehe, if you want to go with black, white, or yellow I don't mind.

 

[Twitch]

@RobSBP #2 is already there on the EX. Looks like 8 stranded already. Is the image here the one your are suggesting for the transmission? This already has a ground to the chassis?