Has anyone installed aftermarket ground wires? What do they do....and do they improve the performance of your car?

Well, I plan on doing this mod as well, but there is a thread in the electrical mod section that goes into detail. Basically, 4 pieces of #4 ground wire (6 or 8 feet total) and 8 ground lugs. Total cost about $15.00 from Home Depot.

I've read improved shift response, brighter lights - more stable idle, etc.

But at the same time people will say it's all show and no go.

I'll probably do it with some nice looking clear/silver wire
just because it can't hurt and will look good. If it helps drive
my amps and lights better, more power to it! (no pun intended)

One notices a much better idle and plus like lonely raven said it is much more for look than performance...
and yes I do have an 8 point grounding kit...............

there are some on ebay for sale..

Has anyone installed aftermarket ground wires? What do they do....and do they improve the performance of your car?

I got mine from Randode. They work great, I got a 20hp gain! jk :lalala: It does help smooth out the idle though, and it looks cool!

If I were you, I'd make my own. Find your grounding points and use string to measure exact lenghts of cable you'll need to run things nice and clean.

The ground wire DIY/tutorial can be found here: http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=29261

One of many tutorials in the Tech Section: http://www.scionlife.com/tech/

I couldn't buy a premade kit, simply because I don't like
the looks of the wire they use. Not that it's bad, just not
what I imagine loading my box up with.

I'll find something I like and load her up eventually, but I
need to take care of big stuff first. Wheels, springs,
grill, spoiler.

I've got 3 of the 4 picked out already.

BTW, my idle is fine. I can't imagine it getting much better.

i thought it was bs all the way so i looked at mikochus write up a dam good one too good job anyway i was impressed with mikochus voltage findings and said why not that makes sense well my findings are smoother idle with ac on hell that was way worth the 15 bucks spent the other claims the ground wire kits make i dunno but the smooth idle is a very tangable item for me

I eventually got the groundfusion kit b/c it was too hard to find 4 gauge wire here (let alone ring connectors). I don't know where you guys shop, but around here, home depot didn't carry the wires nor did radio shack. The only 4g ring connectors I found were at circuit city (all gold I think) and they were going for 5 dollar for 2. So it wasn't quite worth it for me.

Most of the car audio places tried to rip me off. ($2.75 per foot of cable... ring terminals were cheap there though..)... I might've finally found a place that would do what I wanted for cheap... but it wasn't worth the hassle. At the prices I got the groundfusion kit wasn't that far off in price.. so I went with them just for the ease of install. Its a good kit.... I'd recommend getting it if you want ground wires. Whether ground wires actually do anything... well i'll leave that to the experts.

Oh not all car audio places are that bad... I did find one nice place that gave me about 3 feet of 4 gauge wire for free (but I already had my groundfusion kit in).

Oh yeah I will say this... I have an auto... I do get lower rpms at high speeds (my speed when I hit 3k rpms is slightly higher now). However that may be due to the fact that i reset the ECU.

go to your local car audio store and buy GOOD 4guage wire in whatever length you need and the appropriate connectors

this way you can get the color combo you want and the exact length you need, i bought 30 feet of silver wire with a clear jacket from Stinger for about $25 with silver connectors-brass wouldn't match for my engine compartment

^^^^^^^^^^That dude is Smart...what he said.

<----not that smart
just been doin car shows/car customizing for 8 years

From research I did on various Japanese pages, here is the plan I am working from ...

Rooster's Ground Wire Project
===================================
13 Connection Points
===================================
Using 8 gauge wire.

1 - Bulkhead
2 - The right strut section
3 - The left strut section
4 - Alternator
5 - Engine head (right bulkhead side)
6 - Engine head (left bulkhead side)
7 - Engine head (right intake manifold side)
8 - Engine head (left intake manifold side)
9 - Throttle Body
10 - Standard Ground near battery
11 - Transmission case (important if automatic)
12 - Oil pan connection
13 - Injector rail

==================================
Underbody Ground Improvements
==================================
Using Flat Braided Ground Strap

1 - Before the catalyst
2 - After the catalyst
3 - Muffler end
4 - Under Front Chassis
5 - Under Middle Chassis
6 - Under Rear Chassis

I have the Ground Fusion kit on my car. Install was easy ... Didn't notice a HP increase but I did notice a smoother start and no bog down when you turn the AC on ...
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=48722

... I will say this... I have an auto... I do get lower rpms at high speeds (my speed when I hit 3k rpms is slightly higher now). However that may be due to the fact that i reset the ECU.
did u mean to say that? or was that an innocent eff up, b/c i've re-read that sentence a million times and i still cant process it

??
i'll give an example off the top of my head...
on the free way if I travel in top gear with O/D at 3k rpms my speed is now 76-77 mph... whereas before the mod it was definately below 75 mph... the same thing happened before and after installing the intake (don't remember what it was stock... i think somewhere near 70). what does this mean exactly? dunno but it means something is different to me...
Unfortunately our gauges aren't very exact... so I pretty muchjust have to eyeball the speed.

the only thing is that since installing it required the ECU to be reset.. that might account for the difference... but i highly doubt it... I guess I'll find out when I reset during the summer (warmer temps). Oh and also engine break-in, oil changes etc could be factors.

nevermind, i was at work when i read that and wasnt thinking (i'm a trained monkey at work). sorry about that

so will it help with stereo headlight dimming?