DeLorean Tech Wiki
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The DeLorean has numerous grounds that can become corroded or loose over time. Loose or dirty grounds can cause various electrical problems ranging from engine behavior issues to lighting problems to excessive power drain to blown fuses and so on.

Overview[]

Electrical grounds are connected to the negative terminal of the battery. The metal surfaces of most vehicles including the DeLorean are connected to ground. The DeLorean has multiple grounds at various points in the car. While it is most common to switch the positive feed to control a component (often through a manual switch or a relay), the DeLorean includes various switched grounds as well.

All electrical connections must have a good connection to ground. a broken connection will result in an open circuit and the failure of the component to operate. Loose or dirty grounds can increase the resistance in the circuit, which can cause components relying on it to fail to operate, or operate intermittently or improperly.

Locations[]

The major grounds can be found at the following locations.

Location Description
Passenger Side Trailing Arm Bushing Mount Primary Ground
Passenger Side Rear Intake Frequency Valve Ground
Passenger Side Engine Mount Engine Ground
Crumple Tube Top Radiator Cooling Fans, Horns, Headlights, etc.
Behind the Rear Parcel Shelf Back Wall, above the Fuse/Relay Compartment Main Electrical Ground

This list may not be complete.

Cleaning Grounds[]

Grounds should be free of corrosion (green discoloration) and rust. Most grounds are simply a wire with a ring terminal attached to a bolt. To clean the ground, first remove the bolt and the wire. Check for rust and corrosion on the bolt, the ring terminal on the wire, and the location where the bolt mounts. Use sandpaper to clean off any that is present. You may also find that 91% isopropyl alcohol applied to a rag is helpful when removing corrosion. For badly damaged ring terminals, you may want to cut it off and crimp on a new new. Once clean, slide the wire back on the bolt and firmly secure bolt to its mount, being careful not to over-tighten it.

More Information[]

More information on grounds can be found at the following sites:

See Also[]

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