Thread: Earth cables on TDi

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

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.

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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

Originally Posted by 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.

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

Originally Posted by bigcarle

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.