ground?

[rede30]

Is there a wire that needs to be grounded on the right side of the engine? I see a bolt on the frame like the one on the left side but i cant find a wire to ground on it. Anyway my black wont hold a charge after i jump, where could i start looking for the problem?

[arsevader]

Is there a wire that needs to be grounded on the right side of the engine? I see a bolt on the frame like the one on the left side but i cant find a wire to ground on it. Anyway my black wont hold a charge after i jump, where could i start looking for the problem?

Can be used on either side, but the M20 doesn't really have anywhere to ground to on the passenger side. One ground should be enough.

If you can't charge your battery then I'd start looking at the alternator or the battery. Get both tested.

[rede30]

Yea the battery is new and the alternator worked fine when it was in my red car a few weeks ago but it could be one of those things, its just as soon as i shut the car off its all done. Anyone else know where this could stem from.

[arsevader]

Yea the battery is new and the alternator worked fine when it was in my red car a few weeks ago but it could be one of those things, its just as soon as i shut the car off its all done. Anyone else know where this could stem from.

Check the voltage accross the batttery terminals when the car is running. Should be at least 13V. Check this against the voltage coming from the large terminal on the alternator. Should be the same. If the battery one is lower then you have a wiring issue. If both are fine then it's probably a dud battery.

If the alternator is too low then it's the alternator that is the problem.

[christophbmw]

hey i had a prob. like that on my M10....i could not find the prob, turned out to be corrosion inside the lead terminal (could not see it, it was in where the wire goes into the lead). also my M42 grounds on the pass side so that "empty" stud is probabally there for the 4cyl. cars.

[jht3]

hey i had a prob. like that on my M10....i could not find the prob, turned out to be corrosion inside the lead terminal (could not see it, it was in where the wire goes into the lead)

what he said

my alternator ground was defective, but LOOKED fine. i realize you don't have an alternator ground, but give your wiring a good look. my s14 has a ground strap:
valve cover to the coolant tray
oil pan to the drivers frame
alternator to block
at the starter

check the blue exciter wires, those like to break causing your battery to never charge
check to see if your alt is grounded to the block (multimeter)
check to see if your block is grounded to the frame (multimeter)
check the voltage across the batt terminals, and at the back of the alternator