Earth Strap

[Maggot4x4]

Could a bad earth strap cause all of the following intermittant problems?

1. Starter Motor only works intermittantly

2. Car sometimes stalls when hi beam selected

3. Reverse lights come on by themselves and will stay on for days and the stop for no reason

4. Car will not always turn of with the key and needs to be stalled

I know I am probably dreaming to think it could be that simple but one can only hope. Car is not at home ATM so I can go and try it but if it could be that simple I will take a new strap with me when I go to pick it up.

[bogged]

will take a new strap with me when I go to pick it up.

do it anyway, wont do any harm

[RO8M]

Number 4 sounds like coke build-up on the plugs to me. Anyone else agree? (I'm no expert, just slowly learning thru life...)

But 1 and 2 sounds like a faulty earth to me...

[HotFourOk]

No.3 Sounds like a problem with the lights wiring itself...

Just put a big mother on to rule it out...
If I add accessories or stereo gear, I upgrade the earth from battery to body, just with some big stereo gauge wire.

[lay80n]

Could a bad earth strap cause all of the following intermittant problems?

What car/motor are we talking about ??
1
1. Starter Motor only works intermittantly - Possibly earth strap, but also check wiring at motor incase its loose/faulty.

2. Car sometimes stalls when hi beam selected - Could be many things, but earth strap might be part of it.

3. Reverse lights come on by themselves and will stay on for days and the stop for no reason - Reverse switch? Again possibly earth strap related but there is plenty of other cause.

4. Car will not always turn of with the key and needs to be stalled - Diesel or petrol?? If petrol sounds like carbon buildup in combustion chamber or on plugs, causeing hot spots that make the motor run on. If diesel may be the cut-off solenoid for the fuel on the pump.

I know I am probably dreaming to think it could be that simple but one can only hope. Car is not at home ATM so I can go and try it but if it could be that simple I will take a new strap with me when I go to pick it up.

[PGS 4WD]

Its possible. Bad eatrhs can do mysterious things as the current searches for a ground through other electrical devices.
Is no. 4 being stalled beacause it is running on(which is when the engine diesels on hot spots in the combustion chamber) or does it just run normally?
I've seen cases with alternator wiring causing engines to not turn off, there is a diode in the circuit that if failed in a way it let current flow both ways could allow the engine to keep running in some vehicles.
Joel