In troubleshooting the ignition system I have tried to find out how the engine is grounded but have so far come up empty. The negative cable from the battery is only bolted down on the battery plate. From what I hear, there is supposed to be a ground cable going from the left side of the engine to the body. Can anyone confirm this and even better, describe exactly to which points this cable connects?

Thanks,
Kåre

Get yerself a generic "ground cable" at the local auto-dreck and attach it wherever it seems to want to go just so long as one end is on the engine/tranny and the other is on the chassis (not the x-member). Use toothed "star" washers for a good contact.

Mike!

In general I've seen the grounding strap on the right side of the engine, bolting underneath on of the two 'side' bellhousing bolts. It usually is in close proximity to the exhaust pipe.

I replaced my 142's ground cable with a 240 cable. There is a small pigtail that goes to the fender on a 240 that reaches the battery tray on a 140.

Then the large wire I ran to one of the motor mount bolts. No more grounding troubles.

Hi,

There is a ground strap made up of braided wire down by the starter running to the frame. One thing to make sure of if you end up messing with it. If the strap is not connected up, the circuit tends to try to run down your clutch cable which results in it snapping. I lost 2 cables that way.

Thanks - that confirms what I heard. Do you know if the strap bolted to one of the starter attachment bolts or somewhere else?

Kåre

If memory serves me correct it should be on a starter bolt. If not on there very close by.

I just posted a picture. The strap should be part 56 in the picture, right?. I think I can figure out where to hook it up.

The easiest way to fix this is to get the later 240 braided cable and attach it from the rearmost valve cover bolt to the firewall and forget about the starter to frame strap.
--
'89 245 Sportwagon, '96 960 sedan

The 240 braided cables I have seen look kinda puny next to the 1" x 3/32"
braided strap on the 140/164, and the mounting to the starter bolt seems
highly appropriate since the starter may draw 150 amps. Last time I checked
there was no current draw associated with the valve cover.....
--
George Downs, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Central US

I'm trying to stay OEM where I can so I wanted this grounding strap like the factory installation. I went under the car last night and guess what, covered in 30 year old dirt and oil there was the strap - just where it was supposed to be. For good measure I took it off and cleaned it as well as the contact points. I hope the engine will fire up again tonight...

Kåre

Looks right to me.... the cable is a flat braided wire.