Clean ground (how-to ward of electrical gremlins)

[Jeremiah]

This will work for Samurai or Tracker, but this is out of a '94 Tracker. Many electrical gremlins end up being chased down to a bad ground wire.

I used one of these, but you can use a hand wire brush, sand paper - whatever. The idea is to clean off the paint where the ground connects:

Pull your battery, you'll see the negative grounds out at the starter, and at the firewall. You'll want to get both spots cleaned up really well:

Make sure the eyelets get cleaned up:

And the terminals:

To avoid rust, I covered up the area I exposed, and hit it with rustolium. Green was what I had laying around:

 

[Trevinator]

You are forgetting the worst ground in a sidekick......behind the tail light. Always corodes and makes life hell!!!! Check it out! 

 

[geopat]

You are forgetting the worst ground in a sidekick......behind the tail light. Always corodes and makes life hell!!!! Check it out! 

yes, left me and my gf stranded on the highway. its the ground for the fuel pump

 

[Jeremiah]

You are forgetting the worst ground in a sidekick......behind the tail light. Always corodes and makes life hell!!!! Check it out! 

Passenger side?

 

[Uncivilized]

Passenger side?

Driver's side. There's a main harness connector there as well, it tends to corrode in moist/humid areas. It's should be separated & coated in dielectric grease annually or every couple years to avoid problems.

 

[MaineZuke]

before you reattach them, put some light grease or di-electric grease on them to keep the corrosion from coming back.