MattP Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 I have recently changed the following earth points with stainless steel bolts *Front right wing *front left wing *the one behind the battery *the one at the top rear of the engine that attaches to the firewall My car has since developed a misfire is this a possible culprit? Are my stainless bolts poor conductors compared to the stock steel bolts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 I think stainless steel isn't as good a conductor as normal steel. I would swap the bolt back to stock and see if it makes a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattdavies Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 I think stainless steel isn't as good a conductor as normal steel. I would swap the bolt back to stock and see if it makes a difference. I take it you clean the metal underneath the earth, if you had good contact in the bolt I am sure the bolt material won't make too much difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattP Posted April 16, 2015 Author Share Posted April 16, 2015 The car has no rust and the points are very clean my concern is that stainless steel is apparently a poor conductor compared to steel and this is the only thing I can think is causing the misfire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaing Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Although S/S is not as good as a conductor as steel its not far off. Would not have thought this would cause you an earth problem. I would check all earth connections again, if you have a meter check continuity at these connection points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaing Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 see this table for the differences in conductivity http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_resistivity_and_conductivity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Most bolted ground points just use the bolt or stud as a calmping medium. The conductive path is normally betwen the wire eyelet tag and the sheet steel of the bodyshell or whatever. The clamping medium could be insulating nylon, if the eyelet and its ground point are clean metal. I VERY much doubt the stainless fasteners are directly the cause of your issues. VERY VERY much doubt it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattP Posted April 16, 2015 Author Share Posted April 16, 2015 Most bolted ground points just use the bolt or stud as a calmping medium. The conductive path is normally betwen the wire eyelet tag and the sheet steel of the bodyshell or whatever. The clamping medium could be insulating nylon, if the eyelet and its ground point are clean metal. I VERY much doubt the stainless fasteners are directly the cause of your issues. VERY VERY much doubt it! Il check the surfaces again and swap the 5 offending bolts for steel and report back gentlemen... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattP Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 Cleaned the points and holes out with brake cleaner and swapped out the stainless for new steel bolts and washers today it did not rectify the problem... Next I removed the plastic spark well cover and inspected the area in great detail no oil or contaminants in the wells or bad connections so all good. which leads me to my final suspect the FCD I will report back shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattP Posted April 19, 2015 Author Share Posted April 19, 2015 It was indeed my dodgy wiring of the fcd that caused it.... Ma bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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