GU Earth Strap

Submitted: Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 12:53

ThreadID: 22842 Views:8546 Replies:6 FollowUps:7

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Farside

Dear All

A work college of mine recently took his 2000 GU into Nissan because it appeared that either his alternator was failing or his ECU was on the blink. The initial symptoms were that his sub-tank light would come on and off for no reason. He did not bother with it until one night whilst raining all his dummy lights came on and his ECU went into limp home mode. He called RACQ who replaced his battery and the next morning he took the vehicle into Nissan.

They said that there is a problem with the way the electrical system is earthed. If you add a number of electrical accessories then the system uses the sub tank fuel level probe as an earth, which can lead to you ECU playing up (???). They said they needed to fit an extra earth strap some where on the vehicle to correct this. After paying ($100.00) for this earth strap he drove the vehicle out of the workshop only to discover that the sub-tank light was still coming on. He took the vehicle back to which they discovered that the voltage regulator and filter on the alternator was faulty and so not delivering the right voltage.

The question I have has any heard of this extra earth strap and where does it get fitted?

Thanks

Angus

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Reply By: Member - Andrew O - Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 13:06

Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 13:06

Early GU's required extra earth straps between the chassis and the body. Not sure about the 2000 model.

My 2000 model (pictured) had the radiator fry due to stray current. Nissan blamed it on the dual battery and promptly wiped their hands of it. So in my new Patrol, the dealer fitted the dual battery - and most importantly, all accessories have had the earth wire run back to the battery, not to the car body - this has then placed no extra electrical earthing load on the vehicle. There is no sign of stray current in this new Patrol.

Cheers
Andrew

AnswerID: 110604

Reply By: Tim (vic) - Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 13:14

Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 13:14

A bloke i know had the same issue with his patrol but it took them a while to work out is was an earthing problem. They had changed sender unit in fuel tank but was still there
Tim

AnswerID: 110605

Reply By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 13:17

Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 13:17

My old 1999 gu 4,2td,,,,, when i put the driving lights on , the main fuel tank level would drop to empty... same thing i gather, still does it now i think.. michael

Patrol 4.2TDi 2003

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AnswerID: 110606

Reply By: sevo - Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 15:57

Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 15:57

Angus,
I have fitted many earth straps to patrols (tech bulletin has been relaesed years ago) on the left hand on the chassis under a existing 10mm bolt to an existing 12mm bolt on body.
cheers sevo

AnswerID: 110643

Follow Up By: gregr - Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 20:20

Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 20:20

hey sevo
can you give a little more detail mate exactly where to fit the earth strap

i am not the worlds best home mechanic mate
and i would like to fit an earth strap to my 3.0 l gu 2002

i keep blowing the interior light and the fuse for the hazzard lights
i have dual batts and two 12 v outlets for the engel and the finch in the back
thanks mate
my regards greg

FollowupID: 367139

Follow Up By: sevo - Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 20:43

Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 20:43

Gday greg,
I will take a pic of mine tommorow , send me you email and i will forward it to you. Up grade your 10amp fuse for hazards to 15amp ( i take it you have a bullbar and extra 2 blikers can sometimes exceed 10 amp fuse) this is normal fix for that concern. Do you blow interior bulb or fuse? I have an LED bulb for interior light works great.
cheers Sevo

FollowupID: 367143

Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 14:30

Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 14:30

Sevo,

Please tell us more about the LED interior light....the Nissan ones are pharkin useless

FollowupID: 367257

Follow Up By: gregr - Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 20:19

Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 20:19

sevo
i will replace with a 15 amp fuse as you suggest and yes i have bb and two spots up front

its the bulb which is blowing in the interior light

my email is -
matheng@powerup.com.au

thanks mate i appreciate it
my best greg

FollowupID: 367323

Follow Up By: sevo - Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 20:26

Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 20:26

Gday Roachie,
I purchased mine at www.aardvark shop.com.au, super bright(30 -40 lumans),only draw 120milliamps, and last around 100,000hrs. But $48 including freight.
cheers sevo

FollowupID: 367324

Reply By: mick - Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 17:05

Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 17:05

Farside,

I have a 2003 GU and experienced a similar problem. I had a dual battery, spotties, cb, cruise control and hot wiring for van power fitted, it was explained to me that all that there was not enough earthing hence an extra earth strap. My sub light was coming on however after the new strap and $50 everything was honky dory

Mick

AnswerID: 110654

Reply By: Member - Hugh (WA) - Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 23:29

Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 23:29

Hi Angus,

Since I've fitted dual battery system (including 8 B&S +ve cable back to Anderson plug for 3rd battery in camper trailer) I've noticed that my main fuel gauge under reads by ~ 1/4 tank but it only does this with the camper connected. Seems to be OK the rest of the time.

I had thought this may be something to do with voltage drop in the system but hadn't really bothered to check. I run all rear connects to a central earthing point on the rear chassis, however haven't done anything to increase earthing from body to chassis. I also earthed the 2nd battery to body and engine but not to chassis, Thinking about it, the std Nissan earth strap is only to body and engine.

I think I'll take Sevo's advice and install an earthing strap to chassis.

Regards,
Hugh

AnswerID: 110742

Follow Up By: Member - Stillthinkinaboutit - Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 17:12

Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 17:12

Hi Hugh,

I had exactly the same problem before I fitted the earth straps.

Only noticed it at night ( lights on ) with the camper attached, never bothered too much about it.
When we bought our new camper ( Jayco Dove Outback ) it had extra lights, like front and side clearance lights.
Well on our first night trip with the new camper my main fuel guage dropped by over 3/4 tank and the sub guage dropped by over 1/2 tank.

I was certainly concerned now because I could not rely on the fuel guages at all.
So when I started looking at the problem I found that the earth from the 7 pin brylite connector went to the chassis rail, well I thought, this should be a good earth. Well was I wrong, I found I had nearly a 4 volt drop with the tail and clearance lights on. So on further investigation I found as you did, the chassis is not earthed to the battery, motor or body. Soon fixed this with an earth strap from the engine block to the chassis and one from the body work to the chassis.
No problems now.

FollowupID: 367286