Auto-stop and grounding cables

Wayland · 03-01-2009, 12:37 PM

I have a 2000 Insight with about 140k miles on it. My grounding cables were so corroded and brittle that they broke off when I went to check them yesterday. I had parts ready to replace the upper cable but not the lower cable (the one that connects to the engine block).

Today, I had to run in town for an errand and noticed the car was going to auto-stop at just about every stop I made. Note that it is about 25F here in Ohio today. On the return trip home, it went into auto-stop and would not restart at all. I pushed it to the side of the road and after a minute or two it restarted and I made it home. It did the same thing pulling into the garage.

Would a broken or missing grounding cable result in these symptoms? I had power on the dash.

retepsnikrep · 03-02-2009, 12:00 AM

Broken ground cables have been the suspected cause of loads of issues. Try searching on here.

You need to replace them asap before any permanent damage is caused.

**freezin4** · 03-02-2009, 09:43 AM

New cables are about $10 at dealer in US. I applied some "Liquid Tape" before the install to keep it corrosion proof.

Available at WalMart.

Other options are replacement cables available at WalMart at the battery rack. The eyelet holes may be a bit big, so you'd have to use washers. (Harder to find the short ones.)

Also look at the motorcycle/ATV section at autoparts stores.

flymuck · 03-02-2009, 10:59 AM

You can also get the real replacement parts from Majestic Honda (online).

Wayland · 03-02-2009, 11:47 AM

I did replace them right away with some I got at the auto parts store. I just wondered if that was the only thing going on. I'm guessing so, because all seems fine now.

As for searching through the archives, I'm have a hard time with this new search method. I can't find any way to limit my searchs, so I keep getting irrelevant results. Are there any "AND" and "OR" methods?

IHonda2002 · 03-05-2009, 09:00 PM

The two cables we are talking about is the ground from the battery to the chasis and the one from the engine to the chasis right where the radiator overflow container is, right? The one to the engine is a tad frayed and a few wires are coming out, so I'd like to replace it. Anyone have a part number of one from an auto parts store that works?

Thanks.

IHonda2002 · 03-09-2009, 09:27 PM

Ok. I found the two engine ground cables. One is pretty short. I've looked around for cables. The shorter ones I find are 6 gauge. I assume that's big enough, right?

Thanks.

IHonda2002 · 03-12-2009, 10:22 PM

I bought 2 18" 6 gauge cables. Shorttest I could find. Just replaced both grounds tonight. After I removed both cables I could see that half of the wires were broken in each one. We'll see if I can tell any difference when driving tomorrow.