Earth cables on TDi

[bigcarle]

Can some one tell me where the Earth cable for the chassis to body is located please.
I have found the battery to chassis and the cable from the starter to the chassis.
My light pulse with the engine and i want to make sure the earths are right.
This is all on a 1998 300TDi auto

[DAMINK]

The v8 has one also below the airbox to the engine below exhaust. I assume its the same on the tdi?

[bee utey]

That should be the battery earth cable, it goes from the battery to the body under the expansion tank then chassis by the steering box. I usually put a new direct earth cable on those vehicles from the battery to the engine as well as cleaning up the old one.

[AK83]

Earth distribution point for headlights are different for each side:
RHS(drivers) between the battery and the fusebox. It's called E100(in RAVE).
LHS(passengers) is between the air box(near the front) and the inner wing. (assuming no snorkel/modded air box).

Curious: is it just the headlights, or the side/tail lights too(ie. have you checked?)
Also, alternator output.
Sounds like a regulator issue.

[bigcarle]

Earth distribution point for headlights are different for each side:
RHS(drivers) between the battery and the fusebox. It's called E100(in RAVE).
LHS(passengers) is between the air box(near the front) and the inner wing. (assuming no snorkel/modded air box).

Curious: is it just the headlights, or the side/tail lights too(ie. have you checked?)
Also, alternator output.
Sounds like a regulator issue.


everything pulses so as you said could be regulator, when its cold here it will charge to just over 14v
and settle back down after about 5 mins and the tacho needle will wave around as well until then except when
you have your foot on the brake and then it steadies

[bigcarle]

That should be the battery earth cable, it goes from the battery to the body under the expansion tank then chassis by the steering box. I usually put a new direct earth cable on those vehicles from the battery to the engine as well as cleaning up the old one.

i will double check but i thought i saw it going from battery straight to chassis near the steering box unless i
missed a turn in the cable

[bee utey]

i will double check but i thought i saw it going from battery straight to chassis near the steering box unless i
missed a turn in the cable

The earth tag is crimped sideways to a straight section of cable so is easy to miss if you don't know it's there.

[Old Farang]

everything pulses so as you said could be regulator, when its cold here it will charge to just over 14v
and settle back down after about 5 mins and the tacho needle will wave around as well until then except when
you have your foot on the brake and then it steadies
Mine was doing exactly the same. The alternator / regulator for sure. Putting your foot on the brake places a bit more load on the system and the voltage stabilises.