Grounding Woes

Smokinstang65

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So it appears errant voltage in my coolant ate through a pricey aluminum radiator id installed. Anyone know some common grounding points and their locations that I might check before I start doing the more I depth fuse pulling game?
 

Smokinstang65

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You're seeing voltage in your coolant?
Thats what I'm told. I pulled the radiator after it started to leak and then the leaks accelerated. Radiator shop said based on where its leaking from, residue coming out of the radiator, his professional opinion was I didnt have something grounded right and voltage was making it into the coolant t and causing an electrolytic reaction with the radiator.

Took a look at the front of the car and low and behold, one of the grounds for my after market dual fans on the intercooler was hanging completely loose. Just about got the new radiator installed and wiring redone. Will test for voltage in the coolant then
 

Race Red Boss

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Glad it looks like you identified the issue. I was just going to ask if you had actually checked for voltage present in the coolant.
 

Smokinstang65

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Dang.. thats a weird one. Good catch.
I'm glad I took the old one to the radiator shop because if he hadn't told me, id have had no clue to even check and C&R radiators are a little spendy to be replacing every few months. Thats why this time I'm running a ground from the radiator and intercooler. Then once assembled im still gonna check and see if there's any voltage. Dont need it eating away at anything else.
 

4rd Toys

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Wait... say that again...

I have a C & R radiator in box ready to go...but need to yank the OE 2012 radiator plus I have already installed an aluminum 2-pass lower heat exchanger [W/O fans].

Are you saying that I will have to ground the two together or at a common point?
 

Smokinstang65

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Wait... say that again...

I have a C & R radiator in box ready to go...but need to yank the OE 2012 radiator plus I have already installed an aluminum 2-pass lower heat exchanger [W/O fans].

Are you saying that I will have to ground the two together or at a common point?

So the dual intercooler fan probably had two grounds you had to attach to the chassis somewhere. One of mine came loose and im assuming that is what caused the voltage in the radiator.

As a failsafe for the future, if it happens again or something else causes an errant voltage, I ran a 10g piece of wire from a mounting hole for the intercooler on the passenger side up to the upper passenger side mounting hole for the radiator. Then from there I had another piece of wire that I've run from there back to a good solid point on the chassis to make sure both remain grounded.
 

4rd Toys

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interesting...there are also some sacrificial anode drain plugs out there you might look into to help protect an aluminum radiator

Do you know off-hand any part numbers to swap out the plug for a sacrificial anode?

Or thread size for that matter.... and then cut-down the anode to fit the drain plug space...

Maybe I can cross-reference into a different industry like chem-treat components for small boilers, like commercial kitchen steamers or small sterilizer boilers....
 

DSG2003Mach1

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Do you know off-hand any part numbers to swap out the plug for a sacrificial anode?

Or thread size for that matter.... and then cut-down the anode to fit the drain plug space...

Maybe I can cross-reference into a different industry like chem-treat components for small boilers, like commercial kitchen steamers or small sterilizer boilers....

i do not but the one I remember was on summit racing and I believe fluidyne brand
 

Smokinstang65

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As seen in the screens screenshot, the drain bung is 3/8 NPT.
 

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Smokinstang65

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So odd question, but any of yall know the engine grounding location on these cars? There's what looks like a battery to chassis ground at the passenger side shock tower mount. My understanding from looking at swapping out the alternator is that there is a grounding wire from it to the battery. There are a couple more chassis grounds on the radiator support front passenger side too. However, I cannot seem to find a listing anywhere showing where the engine block itself grounds to the chassis. Trying to get a general idea of where it may be located before I jack it up and start searching everywhere.
 

Smokinstang65

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Smokinstang65

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