Hyperground Impressions
11-30-2007, 11:57 AM
#1
Hyperground Impressions
I installed a 6 wire custom hyperground yesterday using black 6 awg wire from Home Depot. I used Irish44j's write up which I found in this thread. According to the write up, I did wires A, B, C, E, F, and G. I'll go through detailed explanations of my impressions as they occurred to me. For the short version, read the bolded parts.
Note: I did not ground the transmission (automatic). I was planning on doing it today, but after driving around, I'm not sure I need to (see below).
Impressions:
1) "Are my lights brighter?" It was just beginning to get dark, and I could swear my gage cluster was brighter. I don't know how that's even possible, considering the relatively small amount of power the gage cluster takes to illuminate. The reflection of my headlights in the sliding glass door in front of my parking spot also suggested that the headlights and foglights were brighter. But, it might have just been in my head. It would be too subjective to decide either way. Verdict: No clear conclusion.
2) Window roll up/down speed. Before --> My front passenger window has always been a lot slower than the front driver side window, and recently has been making a groaning noise. The noise sort of made me feel like the window was having trouble getting enough power to roll up, so much so that I was expecting it to stop working within the next year. After --> it still isn't as fast as the driver side window. But it's a lot faster than it was before, and the groaning noise is gone. Verdict: Improved front passenger roll up/down speed; groaning noise eliminated
3) A/C on/off effects. Before --> when I had the car in park and would turn on the A/C, I would hear a click under the hood, a slight RPM adjustment and dimming of lights, and then the engine would settle down into a slighty louder and less smooth state until the A/C was turned off. After --> same click when the A/C is turned on. Smaller RPM adjustment. Less dimming of lights. Engine settles back to original state rather than the slightly louder, rougher state. Verdict: Quieter, smoother engine operation with A/C on.
4) Throttle Response / Gear Shifts. This was the biggest change. I first noticed the smoothness of the throttle response when starting from a stop. No jerks, just smooth power. I'm talking about city driving here, using less than 50% throttle. Later, I noticed this carried over into smoother, quicker gear shifts. It seems like the throttle is simply more precise. I don't think the transmission has changed any, considering I didn't ground it directly, but I think the improved throttle response has contributed to the better shifting. There is definitely a difference in the shifting. Before, a small stomp on the gas at about 10mph would induce a second of hesitation followed by a nice big jerk. Now it just downshifts and goes. Verdict: Smoother, more precise throttle response and quicker, smoother gear shifts (especially downshifts).
The wiring was fairly easy. I used it as my warm up for HID headlight installation. Highly recommended do-it-yourself mod.
Materials:
20 feet of 6awg wire (2 feet left over)
3/8" terminal connectors for 6awg wire
Heat shrink wrap (used a lighter to shrink)
Wire cutters (hope yours are bigger than mine - small ones are a real pain)
Note: I did not ground the transmission (automatic). I was planning on doing it today, but after driving around, I'm not sure I need to (see below).
Impressions:
1) "Are my lights brighter?" It was just beginning to get dark, and I could swear my gage cluster was brighter. I don't know how that's even possible, considering the relatively small amount of power the gage cluster takes to illuminate. The reflection of my headlights in the sliding glass door in front of my parking spot also suggested that the headlights and foglights were brighter. But, it might have just been in my head. It would be too subjective to decide either way. Verdict: No clear conclusion.
2) Window roll up/down speed. Before --> My front passenger window has always been a lot slower than the front driver side window, and recently has been making a groaning noise. The noise sort of made me feel like the window was having trouble getting enough power to roll up, so much so that I was expecting it to stop working within the next year. After --> it still isn't as fast as the driver side window. But it's a lot faster than it was before, and the groaning noise is gone. Verdict: Improved front passenger roll up/down speed; groaning noise eliminated
3) A/C on/off effects. Before --> when I had the car in park and would turn on the A/C, I would hear a click under the hood, a slight RPM adjustment and dimming of lights, and then the engine would settle down into a slighty louder and less smooth state until the A/C was turned off. After --> same click when the A/C is turned on. Smaller RPM adjustment. Less dimming of lights. Engine settles back to original state rather than the slightly louder, rougher state. Verdict: Quieter, smoother engine operation with A/C on.
4) Throttle Response / Gear Shifts. This was the biggest change. I first noticed the smoothness of the throttle response when starting from a stop. No jerks, just smooth power. I'm talking about city driving here, using less than 50% throttle. Later, I noticed this carried over into smoother, quicker gear shifts. It seems like the throttle is simply more precise. I don't think the transmission has changed any, considering I didn't ground it directly, but I think the improved throttle response has contributed to the better shifting. There is definitely a difference in the shifting. Before, a small stomp on the gas at about 10mph would induce a second of hesitation followed by a nice big jerk. Now it just downshifts and goes. Verdict: Smoother, more precise throttle response and quicker, smoother gear shifts (especially downshifts).
The wiring was fairly easy. I used it as my warm up for HID headlight installation. Highly recommended do-it-yourself mod.
Materials:
20 feet of 6awg wire (2 feet left over)
3/8" terminal connectors for 6awg wire
Heat shrink wrap (used a lighter to shrink)
Wire cutters (hope yours are bigger than mine - small ones are a real pain)
11-30-2007, 02:56 PM
#4
Interesting that just improving engine grounding would make a noticable difference. You'd think with the plethora of electronics and computers in newer cars, the manufacturers would incorporate better grounding into the cars from the factory.
11-30-2007, 03:37 PM
#7
i did it on my 00 (auto). it was connected to one of the bolts on the tranny. just look for one
11-30-2007, 05:13 PM
#10
Total cost was about 35 bucks. I didn't have any of the materials to start with.
I actually went and added a 7th wire to the transmission today. Not sure if it did anything more, but I do know that overall it shifts much smoother now.
Definitely look into this mod, especially if you have an auto. I recommend 6 gage wire as it allows you to make tighter turns than 4 gage. I attempted to go for a "stealthy" look.
I actually went and added a 7th wire to the transmission today. Not sure if it did anything more, but I do know that overall it shifts much smoother now.
Definitely look into this mod, especially if you have an auto. I recommend 6 gage wire as it allows you to make tighter turns than 4 gage. I attempted to go for a "stealthy" look.
12-01-2007, 10:15 AM
#25
Well apparently some folks got drunk late last night and whored up my thread 
Here are some pics:
1) Three ground wires off of the negative battery terminal
2) Ground that is directly behind the battery
3) Transmission ground
The left most wire in pic 1 goes to the point in pic 2. Another wire goes from the point in pic 2 to the tranny in pic 3
Here are some pics:
1) Three ground wires off of the negative battery terminal
2) Ground that is directly behind the battery
3) Transmission ground
The left most wire in pic 1 goes to the point in pic 2. Another wire goes from the point in pic 2 to the tranny in pic 3
12-01-2007, 12:11 PM
#26
Is there a huge difference in using a daisy chain set-up versus having all the ground points connected to the negative terminal? I know I read that someone else had a daisy chain set-up but wasn't sure if the difference would be nominal.
12-01-2007, 03:24 PM
#31
12-01-2007, 03:25 PM
#32
12-01-2007, 03:30 PM
#33
For me it came down to the practical limitations of hooking up more than 3 connectors to the battery terminal. I'm not sure what the theoretical difference between those two methods are.
12-01-2007, 04:25 PM
#36
What about connecting the ground wires to the main engine ground off the battery instead of the negative terminal of the battery itself? It would probably be a cleaner looking installation, but would it be as effective?
12-01-2007, 04:30 PM
#37
i think
havent seen my car in 150 daysi do know that all grounding kits are done that way
12-01-2007, 04:57 PM
#38
Just thinking out loud, I guess.
