Green96GT Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 I can't find the darned thing. Which may mean that a) I'm blind, or the guy who replaced my radiator didn't reconnect it. Can anyone tell me where it should be?? Thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankosolder2 Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 That radiator ground wire is right next to the blinker fluid reservoir. kidding aside, what makes you think the radiator should have a ground wire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94Loyale Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 That radiator ground wire is right next to the blinker fluid reservoir. kidding aside, what makes you think the radiator should have a ground wire? x2...never seen a ground wire attached to the radiator on the newer stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green96GT Posted May 26, 2010 Author Share Posted May 26, 2010 (edited) My Haynes manual Oh, to clarify. It's a ground for the radiator fan which runs from the radiator to the chassis. Edited May 26, 2010 by Green96GT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94Loyale Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 My Haynes manual Problem solved then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOthis Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Hmm Ive worked on thousands of Subarus and never really recall any modern subaru at least with a ground wire for the radiator...I have a haynes manual also for my 96 Legacy from way back and there is some discrepancy in it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green96GT Posted May 27, 2010 Author Share Posted May 27, 2010 Hmm Ive worked on thousands of Subarus and never really recall any modern subaru at least with a ground wire for the radiator...I have a haynes manual also for my 96 Legacy from way back and there is some discrepancy in it... Haynes says: "Check the ground wire attached between the radiator and the chassis. If this wire is not well-grounded, the fan will not run." I guess I'll ignore it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 I think they meant between the radiator FAN and the chassis. There is no ground wire, or any other wire for that matter, attached to the radiator itself. Both fan ground wires are black and should ground to the chassis on the inner part of the frame rails on either side of the radiator. They're easily visible and reachable from the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subaruru Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 (edited) Haynes says: "Check the ground wire attached between the radiator and the chassis. If this wire is not well-grounded, the fan will not run." I guess I'll ignore it.... Maybe one can ignore it, but better to look the beast in the eye first; to state that there is no such animal because one has not oneself seen it is not looking the beast in the eye! I have at least 3 online references to it, two of them IMAGES and the third a written references. Check them out, please (I am keenly interested in this topic because I too have a "loose" ground wire that looks like it may go to the radiator - and it WAS connected to SOMETHING before my helper yanked it off without making note from whence he removed it, that much is obvious from the shiny spot where a washer-nut assembly kept it shiny, while around this shiny area is a grey-black layer of the usual "engine grease", i.e., petroleum fluids mixed with dust). In the images, you will see the ground wire attached to the body near the battery. Exactly like on my 1986 GL Loyale, 4DR, FWD, EA82 Engine, 2bbl carb [i omit hub cap color... ]. Thx! subaruru The written reference is the online Subie DIY repair manual in PDF format (look on page 392, or just plug in "radiator ground wire" in the search function (look for the loupe) and it should take you there): How to Keep Your Subaru Alive: http://www.scribd.com/doc/24542568/How-to-Keep-Your-Subaru-Alive Note added 04Sept2014: Here is a link to an USMB discussion RE the radiator fan which, it is suggested, will not function UNLESS the radiator is grounded: Temperature Switch - Radiator Fan: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/114204-temperature-switch-radiator-fan/ Edited September 4, 2014 by subaruru Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNY_Dave Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 A radiator ground wire might actually be a really bad idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subaruru Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 A radiator ground wire might actually be a really bad idea. Since you don't bother to explain yourself, I presume that you have this piece of dogma from Ayatollah Khoumeini... um, I mean, from Pope Francis, of course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 EA81 cars had a grounded radiator, and used a one wire thermoswitch that connected to the radiator ground when hot to activate the fan. References in haynes or chiltons manuals to a radiator ground are from the EA81 era. EA82 cars.......do not have this....the thermoswitch has 2 wires one of which is direct to ground....the other goes to the fan - so when the switch closes the fan turns on. EJ radiators have a relay that is controlled by the ECU..not a thermoswitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subaruru Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 EA81 cars had a grounded radiator, and used a one wire thermoswitch that connected to the radiator ground when hot to activate the fan. References in haynes or chiltons manuals to a radiator ground are from the EA81 era. EA82 cars.......do not have this....the thermoswitch has 2 wires one of which is direct to ground....the other goes to the fan - so when the switch closes the fan turns on. EJ radiators have a relay that is controlled by the ECU..not a thermoswitch. Thanks infinitely for this clarification, Gloyale! Now I just have to figure out where the business end of the corresponding ground wire on my EA82 goes... it doesn't seem to be long enough to reach the fan itself, but maybe the alternator or the A/C "freon" pump, though, what point, that?! Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moosens Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 You are all non 70's owners.... Old schools are Grounded , plain to see right on top of the boiler to the stay. Stay young you punks !! Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Old brass and copper radiators often had ground straps to help keep away galvanic corrosion. New stuff ain't got them no more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNY_Dave Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Depending on the metals, coolants (proper or not) and such, adding a ground wire where the design didn't call out for one could end up completing a circuit that would enhance corrosion. *Shouldn't*, of course, but I've seen stranger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Thanks infinitely for this clarification, Gloyale! Now I just have to figure out where the business end of the corresponding ground wire on my EA82 goes... it doesn't seem to be long enough to reach the fan itself, but maybe the alternator or the A/C "freon" pump, though, what point, that?! Thanks again! If you are talking about the wire that is attached to the body in front of the battery....that wire should go to the engine block.....or more correctly, to the bolt that is attached to the end of the Water pump extension tube. There is a ground eyelet in the Coil wiring harness that also gets bolted to the same point. Has nothing to do with the radiator or the radiator fan....just gives ground to the body from engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subaruru Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 If you are talking about the wire that is attached to the body in front of the battery....that wire should go to the engine block.....or more correctly, to the bolt that is attached to the end of the Water pump extension tube. There is a ground eyelet in the Coil wiring harness that also gets bolted to the same point. Has nothing to do with the radiator or the radiator fan....just gives ground to the body from engine. Thanks for the many contributions... I see that the Labor Day holiday is over! I'll take your advice, Gloyale, and see if I can't find the spot on the engine where that ground wire attaches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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