BAD EARTH ? - WHERE DO I START

HAVING HAD MY 1991 CLIPPER CABRIO CHECKED OVER AFTER NOT STARTING WITHOUT JUUNP CABLES, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ARE FINE AND I HAVE A 'BAD EARTH' SOMEWHERE.

WHERE DO I LOOK / START ?

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS WHAT HAS CAUSED ANOTHER LONG-STANDING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT I HAD WITH OCCASIONALLY LOSING POWER WHEN DRIVING, BUT NOTHING COULD EVER BE FOUND. THIS ALL NOW MAKES SENSE, SO FINDING THIS MAY BE A MAJOR RESULT FOR ME.

I AM NOT A 'MECHANIC' AND THIS IS A NEW SYMPTOM FOR ME SO I'D APPRECIATE ANY HELP ON HOW MANY AND WHERE THE EARTH'S ARE WITHIN THE ENGINE SO I CAN FIND AND CHECK THEM OUT - OR ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THANKS

try running a new earth lead from the battery to the body,then one from the body to the gearbox,my origional vw one failed and it wouldnt turn over,everything else worked though  :wink:
bert

yes check the earth lead to the body and the gearbox, its under the battery, your loss of power could be the petrol filler neck, check to see if any holes in it, near the wheel and have let water in

Trust me the other problem is something minor as I have replaced everyhting … StAinless stteel filler neck, new fuel tank, fuel lines, fuel pump, starter moro, coil  and experts have looked at it over the last 2 years without success..

A trick is to put a meter or light bulb between the negative pole on the battery and the earth lead.
If it lights or the meter registers voltage with no key you have issue.
Remove each fuse in turn and see which one turns the light out, that will hopefully identify the circuit thats drawing current.
Do this again with the key on first position as some are switched live  ie some are permanent live and some only active with ign live.

Gteat, thanks - that gives me something to work on - much appreciated.

before you do chortles trick though disconnect the radio and the dash. both of these will take a 12v feed so will make the test register voltage. make sure all the interior and boot lights etc are all off too

Thanks Johhny.

you can do as above and switch it to amps mode and do it that way, see what load is beign taken from the battery. note the value then unplug fuses till it drops to normal. not sure what is normal though