Channel Hopper
Members
Some of you may have read my previous thread on the copper conducting lead and its connection to the front bodywork just above the n/s headlight, and the corrosion of the bolt, plus the paint that seems to be in between the two metal surfaces.
Since I've alredy cleaned this up but seem to be experiencing further issues with starting the car when warm (that is most likely down to the age of the replacement batttery) , in the spare hour I had yesterday waiting for the engine to cool down I thought I would have a look to see where the other end of the connecting lead goes to, so took out the battery and removed the tray.
The lead is overly long - not so much of an issue though it could be under half the length, - and bolts to an steel plate, before connecting to the alloy gearbox mounting point, with just two 6mm threaded bolts securing everything together. Both of these are open to the elements and as such water funnels in under the spoiler, and so the bolt holes and surfaces were both filthy and with oxides of all metals.
Unless there is a severe electrolysis effect between copper and alloy (which I doubt, but will check), there seems no real need for this steel part, which is only 4cms long and does not impact on the routing of the connector. So I removed it and cleaned up all mating surfaces before putting things back together. The resistance between negative battery terminal and ground does not appear to have changed (shorting the meter leads directly shows 0.4 Ohms , with the connector adding 0.1 Ohms more) however the earlier corrosion might have an impact on delivery of maximum cranking current to the starter solenoid. I did not have the desire to start checking the positive side of the wiring loom yesterday but might have a closer look another time.
Some pictures of what is under the battery platform, and before/after removing of the waste metal.
Since I've alredy cleaned this up but seem to be experiencing further issues with starting the car when warm (that is most likely down to the age of the replacement batttery) , in the spare hour I had yesterday waiting for the engine to cool down I thought I would have a look to see where the other end of the connecting lead goes to, so took out the battery and removed the tray.
The lead is overly long - not so much of an issue though it could be under half the length, - and bolts to an steel plate, before connecting to the alloy gearbox mounting point, with just two 6mm threaded bolts securing everything together. Both of these are open to the elements and as such water funnels in under the spoiler, and so the bolt holes and surfaces were both filthy and with oxides of all metals.
Unless there is a severe electrolysis effect between copper and alloy (which I doubt, but will check), there seems no real need for this steel part, which is only 4cms long and does not impact on the routing of the connector. So I removed it and cleaned up all mating surfaces before putting things back together. The resistance between negative battery terminal and ground does not appear to have changed (shorting the meter leads directly shows 0.4 Ohms , with the connector adding 0.1 Ohms more) however the earlier corrosion might have an impact on delivery of maximum cranking current to the starter solenoid. I did not have the desire to start checking the positive side of the wiring loom yesterday but might have a closer look another time.
Some pictures of what is under the battery platform, and before/after removing of the waste metal.