Advice please on bad MK6 electric earth connection

[Domoid2013]

Hi

 

This is my first post. I hope this is the right place to ask for advice. Sorry if not. I drive a left hand drive Escort MK6.

 

I've worked out from googling that I have a faulty earth connection on my MK6 which is affecting the demister, fog light and rear wiper. They intermittently go on and off and sometimes the dashboard lights are on, sometimes off etc. It's a case of sometimes they all work, sometimes one or the other works and is apparently a common problem.

 

I've checked the 3 pins in the boot are clean etc and they all seem in great nick, no broken wires. no rust etc. One post on another site stated that he sorted it out by creating a new earth connection to the car body from the fog light. I don't even know what colour the earth wire is. I wondered if anyone could give me detailed advice on how to make another earth connection as I'm a novice really but practical enough if instructed.

 

Thanks for any help and happy new year!

[demented]

Hey, it was possibly my post which says to add an earth.

 

However, when the rear demister interferes with the electric tailgate release or the fog light switch, the fault doesn't normally interfer with the dash lights.

 

If the dash lights within the cluster are illuminating, there could be a different cause, unless you are only referring to a fog light warning light.

 

To add an addition earth, I took a feed from the black earth wire at the the bulb holder of the rear fog light, I attached a fly lead, fitted a ring terminal and bolted it to the earth adjacent to and of the electric motor which pops the tailgate open.

 

To this day, this cured the issue, although someone did suggest that the fog light, when in use would remain illuminated when the tailgate was open.

 

I've never noticed whether this actually occurs or not, I rarely use the fog lights and as my car has electric tailgate release, I have to switch the engine and ignition off to pop the tailgate and by doing so, this turns the fog lights off.

 

Some Escort don't have an independent earth to the fog light and are earthed by the earth of electric motor of the tailgate release, if this is so on your car, you will have to provide an additional earth.

 

I believe the earth provided to the tailgate by the 3 pin connector is not strong enough by itself and the tailgate earths via the hinges as well.

 

Over time, due to wear, dirt etc, the hinges fail to provide a sufficient earth.

 

To add an additional earth, you will have to feed a wire through the tailgate from top to bottom and earth one end to the body work behind the trim, maybe to the bolt of a tailgate hinge using a ring terminal and the other end, attach to the earth bolt adjacent to the tailgate release motor, using another ring terminal.

 

I hope that's not too complicated, it look it when

I read it back.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

[Domoid2013]

Hi Demented

 

Thanks so much for your reply and a very happy new year!. I didn't explain the lights very well. What I meant is that when I put the back wiper on the fog light and demister lights illuminate. If I press the fog light button it half illuminates and the fog light goes on and the rear wiper moves very slowly. Weird stuff like that which I've seen others describe too. I have a Spanish MK6 which doesn't have an electric tailgate motor (as far as I know). I have a cable pull release. I think therefore I will need to add the additional earth method you describe. When you say feed the wire from top to bottom can you reiterate where top is?

 

Just a quick confirmation. I think I located the main earth connection yesterday on the lower right handside of the boot. It was a black wire with a ring terminal bolted to the body. Would that be correct? If that is correct do I just attach a new additional wire to that earth point then the other end as you say to one of the bolts of the tailgate hinge for example? Are ring terminals essential or can I wrap the wires on and tape? That sounds all very simple if I understand you correctly but would appreciate a thumbs up or further brief explanation.

 

Many thanks.

 

 

Hey, it was possibly my post which says to add an earth.

 

However, when the rear demister interferes with the electric tailgate release or the fog light switch, the fault doesn't normally interfer with the dash lights.

 

If the dash lights within the cluster are illuminating, there could be a different cause, unless you are only referring to a fog light warning light.

 

To add an addition earth, I took a feed from the black earth wire at the the bulb holder of the rear fog light, I attached a fly lead, fitted a ring terminal and bolted it to the earth adjacent to and of the electric motor which pops the tailgate open.

 

To this day, this cured the issue, although someone did suggest that the fog light, when in use would remain illuminated when the tailgate was open.

 

I've never noticed whether this actually occurs or not, I rarely use the fog lights and as my car has electric tailgate release, I have to switch the engine and ignition off to pop the tailgate and by doing so, this turns the fog lights off.

 

Some Escort don't have an independent earth to the fog light and are earthed by the earth of electric motor of the tailgate release, if this is so on your car, you will have to provide an additional earth.

 

I believe the earth provided to the tailgate by the 3 pin connector is not strong enough by itself and the tailgate earths via the hinges as well.

 

Over time, due to wear, dirt etc, the hinges fail to provide a sufficient earth.

 

To add an additional earth, you will have to feed a wire through the tailgate from top to bottom and earth one end to the body work behind the trim, maybe to the bolt of a tailgate hinge using a ring terminal and the other end, attach to the earth bolt adjacent to the tailgate release motor, using another ring terminal.

 

I hope that's not too complicated, it look it when

I read it back.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

[demented]

Yeah, what you describe regarding the switches illuminating, that's normal when this issue occurs.

 

Although you have a cable pull to open the tailgate, if it has a tailgate, I believe the earth bolt for the boot release motor is still present, as it also earths the rear wiper, it just won't have a release motor.

 

I only referred to the tailgate release motor and its earth, as it's very obviously to see once the tailgate trim has been removed. 

 

As for top to bottom;

I refer to the top of the tailgate and feeding a wire through and inside the tailgate from the top until it appears inside the bottom section of the tailgate, kind of below the rear windscreen.

 

Yeah, the black wire you have found bolted to the body is a earth point, however, by connecting a fly lead/wire from the earth you've found and to a hinge bolt probably won't provide the earth you require. 

 

As you must re earth the tailgate. 

 

The hinges are bolted to the body and are already earthed by the bolts, so one half of the hinges are earthed but the other halves, which are welded to the tailgate aren't, that's the earth which has weakened due to wear, grease, oil and dirt.

 

There is probably a very slight earth which can be detected but in my opinion, it's not sufficient.

 

Before adding an additional earth wire, check whether the bulb holder of the rear fog light has its own independent earth.

It's easy, the bulb holder only has two wires, the black one is the earth.

 

If both wires from the fog light bulb holder disappear into a wiring loom together and into the channel of tailgate below the windscreen, then you can use the black wire to earth the tailgate.

 

Otherwise, if one wire from the bulb holder is bolted to a tailgate earth point, then an additional earth wire will be required.

 

I recommend the use of ring terminals, preferable terminals which have been professionally crimped or soldered to the wire, especially due to the issues you've been experiencing, the last thing you want is a dodgy earth connection.

[Domoid2013]

You are a star. I really appreciate the effort you´ve put into your reply. A very positive fist experience on this Forum.

 

Well, I´ll try and pick up some connectors and give it a go. Your information is great, now its up to my novice abilities to try and put them into action!

 

Cheers

 

 

Yeah, what you describe regarding the switches illuminating, that's normal when this issue occurs.

 

Although you have a cable pull to open the tailgate, if it has a tailgate, I believe the earth bolt for the boot release motor is still present, as it also earths the rear wiper, it just won't have a release motor.

 

I only referred to the tailgate release motor and its earth, as it's very obviously to see once the tailgate trim has been removed. 

 

As for top to bottom;

I refer to the top of the tailgate and feeding a wire through and inside the tailgate from the top until it appears inside the bottom section of the tailgate, kind of below the rear windscreen.

 

Yeah, the black wire you have found bolted to the body is a earth point, however, by connecting a fly lead/wire from the earth you've found and to a hinge bolt probably won't provide the earth you require. 

 

As you must re earth the tailgate. 

 

The hinges are bolted to the body and are already earthed by the bolts, so one half of the hinges are earthed but the other halves, which are welded to the tailgate aren't, that's the earth which has weakened due to wear, grease, oil and dirt.

 

There is probably a very slight earth which can be detected but in my opinion, it's not sufficient.

 

Before adding an additional earth wire, check whether the bulb holder of the rear fog light has its own independent earth.

It's easy, the bulb holder only has two wires, the black one is the earth.

 

If both wires from the fog light bulb holder disappear into a wiring loom together and into the channel of tailgate below the windscreen, then you can use the black wire to earth the tailgate.

 

Otherwise, if one wire from the bulb holder is bolted to a tailgate earth point, then an additional earth wire will be required.

 

I recommend the use of ring terminals, preferable terminals which have been professionally crimped or soldered to the wire, especially due to the issues you've been experiencing, the last thing you want is a dodgy earth connection.