I killed a ground - anyone have any bright ideas?

[1mz]

So I went to test fire my m50 last night for the first time and was going through pre-ignition procedures (dme not connected, just cranking it over to make sure I was building oil pressure) and I fried the thin gauge ground wire that leads to the maf/whatever plug is attached with it. The car won't even turn over now. Anyone have any ideas? Heres my power dist. block -




And heres the wire I murdered




I only have the one main ground and the one for the adapter that gregslow made me attached to tray in front of the dist block - am I missing some quintessential ground thats going to make me feel like a jackass?

[justin_l_]

I don't think you missed a ground I think you have power going to a ground. I can tell what you have hooked up to you distrubution block because the shrink wrap stuff is not cut back to expose the wire underneath.

[FredK]

That bottom post does not supply power.

Peel back the insulation on both of the eyelets that are on the same branch as the diagnostic connector. One is power, one is ground. You probably hooked one up backwards.

[1mz]

I made small slits in the insulation before I hooked them up- they're correct. And glad you guys said something - I didn't notice I had done that, I had them hooked up correctly when I burnt the wire, they're like that after some troubleshooting effort

[gregslow318i]

that dist block is 12+ constant, not a ground

[FredK]

that dist block is 12+ constant, not a ground

Yup.

The top post is a fused power. You may have burned the fusible link in the trunk if you hooked a ground up to it.

[1mz]

that dist block is 12+ constant, not a ground

I know, I've checked all of the wires going to it under the insulation - all are solid red. Unless I missed some important memo - those are supposed to be going to the dist block. (Hence DISTRIBUTION - not GROUND)

[1mz]

Yup.

The top post is a fused power. You may have burned the fusible link in the trunk if you hooked a ground up to it.

Hey fred- where is the fuse located for the top post?

[1mz]

nvm. found it. checked it. fuse is still good

[FredK]

Yep, as long as there's +12V at the top post, you're good.

The two posts below it are merely to secure the fat 20mm cable to the firewall, and should not be used to attach a power or ground.

[1mz]

might have fried my starter solenoid... taking this shit back apart to test it now... the dist. block is all straightened out and I traced my harness adapter to double check it. Still have no idea why the wire burned in the first place though.

[1mz]

starter is still good, but I cant get it to turn over in the car...

[1mz]

and I just cut the insulation off my harness - its the ground that goes to the MAF that burned up if that helps at all

[1mz]

one more post for shits and giggles - just out of curiosity,

If I was trying to use an OBD II maf instead of the OBD I that I need, could that cause this issue? I think not, but I'm asking any possible question I can at the moment... I'm at a loss.

[FredK]

how did you hook the OBD-II maf up? Doesn't it have a different circular connector?