Grounding kit
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,129
Grounding kit
I've been poking around the idea of installing one, but haven't jumped on it because I was wary it may be a waste of money. I own 2010 so my cars 4-5 years old now and was wondering if this would be the time to give it a try. I've seen a few threads but mostly cars that were new when they installed them. So my question mainly for those 09-10 models, have you installed one recently and if so were there any significant improvements and also what brand did you use? Racingline, stillen? Etc or are they pretty much the same
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 500
From: CT
I've been poking around the idea of installing one, but haven't jumped on it because I was wary it may be a waste of money. I own 2010 so my cars 4-5 years old now and was wondering if this would be the time to give it a try. I've seen a few threads but mostly cars that were new when they installed them. So my question mainly for those 09-10 models, have you installed one recently and if so were there any significant improvements and also what brand did you use? Racingline, stillen? Etc or are they pretty much the same
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Joined: Aug 2013
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Kind of ironic. I was looking for one for my 3rd gen VG but couldn't find anything yet they're supposed to have a benefit for older wiring harnesses such as mine yet you can only seem to find em for the newer models.
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I noticed that also searching around, there's like a lot of universal kits for older models. I'd imagine the 6th or 7th gen wouldn't be that much different in sizes and lengths needed but what do I know
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 500
From: CT
I bought 2 kits with 5 cables each for $36 at the time and used 8 of the 10 cables. I ended up using the Stillen instructions because Racingline uses a 6th gen max for their directions and a lot of the pictures weren't the same with the 7th gen.
Most vehicle electrical systems are designed to be properly grounded and there is no benefit gained by installing these kits. Especially in a relatively new car. Of course those selling the kits will probably tell you otherwise.
Unless a ground wire is connected to the body in an area where corrosion is a problem there should not be any issues with most grounds.
Unless a ground wire is connected to the body in an area where corrosion is a problem there should not be any issues with most grounds.
they definitely do something, a brand new car you will not see the improvements as much because the factory grounds are fresh the battery is fresh etc. etc.
Adding more grounds to an electrical system will definitely help believe it or not. Now these newer cars have so much electrical stuff now a days I can imagine they have designed these cars out of the box to handle that better than a few years ago but it still will help.
Save the dough? It's like 50 bucks and a great bang for the buck. What mods can you do for $50 and actually feel it?
Granted this is a very very subtle thing. But it slightly enhances many dif things.
Do not get a univeral kit, they are not worth it. Get one made for our cars, or make your own for under $35. Would you get a universal muffler or intake and expect the same results to a product designed for one application??
here is a description from Blehmco talking about 3rd gens. I don't think they make anything any more but this is more for the descript.
http://www.mattblehm.com/enginegrounding.htm
I can tell you I have one and I love it. Can I notice it is there after 5 years not really it is the new normal. But that is like many mods.
I helped my friend install one on his 2001 eclipse 5 spd. I can tell you what it wasn't even my car and I could clearly tell the difference. His windows wouldn't go up in any controlled consistent manner. They definitely had a huge umph afterward and being a two door they were big windows. The biggest improvement I noticed on that car was the shifting. It literally felt like we installed a power mod (like an intake) no lie.
To the OP if you have a 2010, go for it! It won't be night and day like a 15 yr old eclipse but it will be there.
Adding more grounds to an electrical system will definitely help believe it or not. Now these newer cars have so much electrical stuff now a days I can imagine they have designed these cars out of the box to handle that better than a few years ago but it still will help.
Save the dough? It's like 50 bucks and a great bang for the buck. What mods can you do for $50 and actually feel it?
Granted this is a very very subtle thing. But it slightly enhances many dif things.
Do not get a univeral kit, they are not worth it. Get one made for our cars, or make your own for under $35. Would you get a universal muffler or intake and expect the same results to a product designed for one application??
here is a description from Blehmco talking about 3rd gens. I don't think they make anything any more but this is more for the descript.
Benefits are a much smoother idle and acceleration. For Autos, the 2-1 kickdown at stoplights is much more noticeable. I'm sure you've noticed that when you slow to 1-2mph and try to take off, the car is extremely sluggish and wants to stay in 2nd-- or even 3rd gear. With the ground kit installed, that is almost nonexistant. It downshifts properly and pulls away from the light. No more mashing the gas and watching your tires go up in smoke when it finally kicks down into 1st at 15mph!
For 5 spd models, customers have noticed a much smoother power band. Cars that were initially barely able to chirp a 1-2 shift were easily barking the tires after the kit was installed. My engine felt like silk as it was running through the gears--smoother than I've felt this engine run since I bought the car three years ago!
There is a small but noticeable power increase, mostly at the low end and midrange. I didn't see much improvement in the high end, but one of the customers that tried the kit on their VQ did notice more top end--I guess it just depends on what kind of tune your engine is in and the engine itself. VG and VQ Maximas see a huge drop in power as they go up in RPM, so they tend to see more improvement than a 3rd gen VE that has a smoother power curve.
For 5 spd models, customers have noticed a much smoother power band. Cars that were initially barely able to chirp a 1-2 shift were easily barking the tires after the kit was installed. My engine felt like silk as it was running through the gears--smoother than I've felt this engine run since I bought the car three years ago!
There is a small but noticeable power increase, mostly at the low end and midrange. I didn't see much improvement in the high end, but one of the customers that tried the kit on their VQ did notice more top end--I guess it just depends on what kind of tune your engine is in and the engine itself. VG and VQ Maximas see a huge drop in power as they go up in RPM, so they tend to see more improvement than a 3rd gen VE that has a smoother power curve.
I can tell you I have one and I love it. Can I notice it is there after 5 years not really it is the new normal. But that is like many mods.
I helped my friend install one on his 2001 eclipse 5 spd. I can tell you what it wasn't even my car and I could clearly tell the difference. His windows wouldn't go up in any controlled consistent manner. They definitely had a huge umph afterward and being a two door they were big windows. The biggest improvement I noticed on that car was the shifting. It literally felt like we installed a power mod (like an intake) no lie.
To the OP if you have a 2010, go for it! It won't be night and day like a 15 yr old eclipse but it will be there.
Placebo effect is an amazing phenomenon.
On a newer car, the grounding kit will have negligible effects. The main reason (IMO of course) for a grounding kit is for down the road when the small stock grounding wires may start to corrode or deteriorate. Your grounding kit will take care of any problems resulting from that.
On a newer car, the grounding kit will have negligible effects. The main reason (IMO of course) for a grounding kit is for down the road when the small stock grounding wires may start to corrode or deteriorate. Your grounding kit will take care of any problems resulting from that.
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 500
From: CT
In regards to the intake, you do realize that the most important part of the intake is the filter and that is universal right??? i.e. Injen, K&N, R2C, AEM, etc all use the same filter across many different platforms..
Then finally on to the mufflers. Companies like FlowMaster and Magnaflow make universal mufflers that will outperform OEM mufflers any day so again I don't see your point on universal products being a waste.
Overall I feel that everything you said was plausible except your dumba## statement about universal products not being as good..
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 500
From: CT
Placebo effect is an amazing phenomenon.
On a newer car, the grounding kit will have negligible effects. The main reason (IMO of course) for a grounding kit is for down the road when the small stock grounding wires may start to corrode or deteriorate. Your grounding kit will take care of any problems resulting from that.
On a newer car, the grounding kit will have negligible effects. The main reason (IMO of course) for a grounding kit is for down the road when the small stock grounding wires may start to corrode or deteriorate. Your grounding kit will take care of any problems resulting from that.
U mad bro? I didn't mean to strike a chord with you owning a universal kit, if you made it work and noticed results good for you.
Universal grounding kits are a bunch of pre-cut prepared wires at random lenghts that you hope you can find a place to put them. Most people are better off learning exactly what they need to ground and making their own, or buy a product that is designed for their application. I didn't say name brand is important as it appears that is how you took my comment, all I meant was to make sure u know what you're grounding, and not throwing universal wires everywhere. And I agree wire is wire, its how you use it.
Universal grounding kits are a bunch of pre-cut prepared wires at random lenghts that you hope you can find a place to put them. Most people are better off learning exactly what they need to ground and making their own, or buy a product that is designed for their application. I didn't say name brand is important as it appears that is how you took my comment, all I meant was to make sure u know what you're grounding, and not throwing universal wires everywhere. And I agree wire is wire, its how you use it.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 500
From: CT
U mad bro? I didn't mean to strike a chord with you owning a universal kit, if you made it work and noticed results good for you.
Universal grounding kits are a bunch of pre-cut prepared wires at random lenghts that you hope you can find a place to put them. Most people are better off learning exactly what they need to ground and making their own, or buy a product that is designed for their application. I didn't say name brand is important as it appears that is how you took my comment, all I meant was to make sure u know what you're grounding, and not throwing universal wires everywhere. And I agree wire is wire, its how you use it.
Universal grounding kits are a bunch of pre-cut prepared wires at random lenghts that you hope you can find a place to put them. Most people are better off learning exactly what they need to ground and making their own, or buy a product that is designed for their application. I didn't say name brand is important as it appears that is how you took my comment, all I meant was to make sure u know what you're grounding, and not throwing universal wires everywhere. And I agree wire is wire, its how you use it.
You are right about them being precut wires but tbh the length is generally the same/similar across all car engine bays. I say this because the HKS kit fit in my car at the right length for the directions I followed.
The most important part of a grounding kit is the gauge of the wires.
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,020
From: Maryland
Yea the grounding kit shouldn't really do anything to a newer car with moderately clean electrical terminals. When I installed mine it was just a safety measure cause I had my battery relocated to the trunk. In the trunk the battery is grounded to 2 different chassis points as well. It has a huge effect on older cars with corroded terminals but on newer ones it shouldn't do much.
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 478
From: Menifee, CA
Most vehicle electrical systems are designed to be properly grounded and there is no benefit gained by installing these kits. Especially in a relatively new car. Of course those selling the kits will probably tell you otherwise.
Unless a ground wire is connected to the body in an area where corrosion is a problem there should not be any issues with most grounds.
Unless a ground wire is connected to the body in an area where corrosion is a problem there should not be any issues with most grounds.
Just emailed shinjiduo, and here's the correct website for anyone that's interested http://shinjiduo.angelfire.com/maxima.html
He sells kits for all maximas 3rd-to current
He sells kits for all maximas 3rd-to current
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,020
From: Maryland
doesnt really matter how many kits you get, who you get them from, or whatever...you wont really notice the difference on this new of a car unless you have a ridiculous sound system that is causing your lights to dim; grounding kit and/or battery cap can fix that
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 260
Yeh that's definitely what I've heard/read on here....I was doing it more for just overall efficiency. I knew it wouldn't hurt so why not!
Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 260
Installed mine today and I'm happy with it! It comes with 5 cables so I will be ordering another kit for more grounds but my goal wasn't so much for performance, even though I haven't taken it out on a straight yet. What I have noticed is the efficiency aspect which was the goal....my sunroof before made this noise upon opening almost like it was struggling and now it doesn't....car seems to cool a bit faster also? Really noticed this since it hit 95 today here in CLT but so far that's all I have to report....definitely seems to do it's job though!
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