Audio and Electronics Discuss in-car entertainment systems, audio and video systems, car alarms and other electronics topics.

BIG 3 Upgrade

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-03-2008, 02:50 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
mclarengts1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Columbia, SC //Goldsboro, NC
Posts: 743
BIG 3 Upgrade

So I popped the hood this afternoon to try and check things out before I upgrade the wires, well i should have known better! Does anyone have any pics after they did the big 3, also where is the engine ground wire, and I lost the battery negative wire somewhere under the air box , and I guess the power to alt wire runs across the engine somewhere, also if you did the upgrade, did you use 4gauge or 0gauge, and how many feet?
Thanks
mclarengts1 is offline  
Old 03-03-2008, 03:11 PM
  #2  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Romster's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 113
Get a kit, like the one from Courtesy Nissan. It has detailed instructions with pics, 4 guage wires precut to required length and with connectors.
Romster is offline  
Old 03-03-2008, 03:18 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
mclarengts1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Columbia, SC //Goldsboro, NC
Posts: 743
is this the kit your talking bout cause it says it for the 3.5 or does that matter

http://www.courtesyparts.com/Merchan..._Code=GRND-A33
mclarengts1 is offline  
Old 03-03-2008, 03:44 PM
  #4  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Romster's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 113
Yeah thats the one. I don't know what year your car is so I gave that as an example. The 3.5L probably matters because one of the wires needs to be grounded to the engine. You can find kits for other maxima's, like on stillen.com. Those are a bit more expensive though.
Romster is offline  
Old 03-03-2008, 04:34 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
mclarengts1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Columbia, SC //Goldsboro, NC
Posts: 743
its a 2000
mclarengts1 is offline  
Old 03-03-2008, 05:08 PM
  #6  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (7)
 
filtor1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,011
Give me a sec, I will go out and snap a few shots. Should take 15 mins with prepped wires.
filtor1 is offline  
Old 03-03-2008, 05:33 PM
  #7  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (7)
 
filtor1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,011
This is the top of the alternator. I used all black wire due to preference, use what ever you want. This wire will go directly to the positive post on your battery.



I tried to get a good pic of the engine side of the engine/chassis ground. The bolt is directly behind the wire in the center of the pic. Man I need photoshop so I can circle things. Fortunately the ring terminal is the most shiney object in the pic.


Last edited by filtor1; 03-03-2008 at 05:36 PM.
filtor1 is offline  
Old 03-03-2008, 05:35 PM
  #8  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (7)
 
filtor1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,011
This is a pic of the chassis side of the engine/chassis ground as well as the neg battery/chassis. I used the same bolt for both.

filtor1 is offline  
Old 03-03-2008, 05:37 PM
  #9  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (7)
 
filtor1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,011
Sorry about the pics. Old camera, but it still gets the job done.
filtor1 is offline  
Old 03-03-2008, 07:58 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
mclarengts1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Columbia, SC //Goldsboro, NC
Posts: 743
cool thanks, so I dont have to route the lines exactly the same as the factory lines, as long as I get the connections right? Is that correct?
mclarengts1 is offline  
Old 03-03-2008, 10:43 PM
  #11  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (7)
 
filtor1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,011
That is correct. Route them where you want, just pay attention to possible hot spots and/or moving parts. I have the positive run along the top of the radiator. The others I just cut to fit.
filtor1 is offline  
Old 03-04-2008, 03:44 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
mclarengts1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Columbia, SC //Goldsboro, NC
Posts: 743
Sweet thanks
mclarengts1 is offline  
Old 03-04-2008, 09:56 AM
  #13  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (7)
 
filtor1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,011
Originally Posted by mclarengts1
Sweet thanks
Anytime!
filtor1 is offline  
Old 03-04-2008, 11:59 AM
  #14  
Senior Member
iTrader: (12)
 
Fast1one's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 2,268
Originally Posted by filtor1
That is correct. Route them where you want, just pay attention to possible hot spots and/or moving parts. I have the positive run along the top of the radiator. The others I just cut to fit.
Thats how I have mine as well, I just added some insulation for piece of mind

Also fuse the wire for more security
Fast1one is offline  
Old 03-04-2008, 09:13 PM
  #15  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (7)
 
filtor1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,011
Originally Posted by Fast1one
Thats how I have mine as well, I just added some insulation for piece of mind

Also fuse the wire for more security
If I had to do it all over again I would definitely add a fuse as you did. Where did you add insulation?
filtor1 is offline  
Old 03-04-2008, 11:22 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
iTrader: (12)
 
Fast1one's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 2,268
Originally Posted by filtor1
If I had to do it all over again I would definitely add a fuse as you did. Where did you add insulation?
Just added it where the radiator touched the wire, there was really no way it would get hot enough to burn through the wire's insulation unless the car was burning up or something, but better safe than sorry...

I added a fuse near the alternator and another near the battery. Overkill? Probably, but I had the fuse holders laying around anyway
Fast1one is offline  
Old 03-05-2008, 09:03 AM
  #17  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (7)
 
filtor1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,011
Originally Posted by Fast1one
Just added it where the radiator touched the wire, there was really no way it would get hot enough to burn through the wire's insulation unless the car was burning up or something, but better safe than sorry...

I added a fuse near the alternator and another near the battery. Overkill? Probably, but I had the fuse holders laying around anyway
Yeah, that is exact reason I didn't add one, I used them all on other projects.
filtor1 is offline  
Old 03-21-2008, 07:27 AM
  #18  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
mclarengts1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Columbia, SC //Goldsboro, NC
Posts: 743
does any one have pics of how their wires are ran
mclarengts1 is offline  
Old 03-21-2008, 08:13 AM
  #19  
Play with my balls
iTrader: (151)
 
Deckdout2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 6,542
I see you viewing this thread, Jeffrey.
Deckdout2 is offline  
Old 03-21-2008, 02:39 PM
  #20  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (7)
 
filtor1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,011
Originally Posted by mclarengts1
does any one have pics of how their wires are ran
Anthing specific? or just all the wires?
filtor1 is offline  
Old 03-25-2008, 10:21 PM
  #21  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
mclarengts1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Columbia, SC //Goldsboro, NC
Posts: 743
just how anyone has their wires ran nothing specific
mclarengts1 is offline  
Old 03-26-2008, 10:59 AM
  #22  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (7)
 
filtor1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,011
All this pics from my car are here including the Big-3 and wire runs.
filtor1 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Fbana41
Maximas for Sale / Wanted
3
08-29-2016 12:18 PM
D Mason
8th Generation Maxima (2016-)
1
06-21-2016 04:43 AM
MichMaxFan
General Maxima Discussion
10
09-30-2015 09:18 AM
Kyle Lee Cleveland
Audio and Electronics
1
09-28-2015 09:03 AM



Quick Reply: BIG 3 Upgrade



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:48 AM.