wire grounding
 

where would be a good place to ground a wire(for a cb) in a 1997 ranger not using the battery

Closest possible place to reduce interference. Literally, drill a screw to tap a ground if you can.

so say i put a into plastic it would still work?

ummm no. A ground needs to be on metal. Like the frame. Pull up on of the cab bolts and put your ground there.

so just because theres paint over the metal it doesnt matter?
sorry im new to this

I would scuff the paint to make sure there is no interference with it but I also have put a ground there before and not scuffed the paint. So its up to you but if you have the bolt out scuff it up.

so wrap around bolt and screw back in

Thats what I would do. Where are you going to put the CB? I'll try to explain it step by step when I know where your going to put the CB.

under the driver seat most likely

Okay perfect. Unbolt the drivers seat and pull it out. Mount the CB and then cut a small hole in the carpet to run the wires. Pull up the trim on the door. The piece in red.
Attachment 87876

Your carpet should come up enough where you can get to the cab bolt from there. Run your wires pull the bolt sand it down and then put everything back together.

Does that help?

yeah so thats where the black would go did you put the red in the fuse box?

Yeah. Check out these threads. Maybe they can help you.

https://www.ranger-forums.com/showth...light=CB+radio
https://www.ranger-forums.com/showth...light=CB+radio

LOL buggman. take it easy on him

HAHA plastic ground.

Yeah I just ran it to the closest piece of bare metal and bolted it onto a screw.

dont go to the cab bolt. way too much work. unbolt the seat belt clip and put your ground there. it is right beside the seat and much easier access. thats where i got my stereo grounded with no problems

lol, sorry I had to do it.

Seriously,
Just find a factory bolt behind the dash that screws into a solid piece of metal and crimp on a ring terminal to the wire, remove the bolt/screw & put the ring terminal on & bolt it back down... you should be good.

He is putting it under his seat so behind that dash would be way to far away.

Personally I'd ground to the dash frame there is a metal skeleton that the plastic dash cover screws to and you can even use one of those screws that hold the dash in, never put a hole in your floor pan thats how rust starts.

People read!! It is going under his seat the dash is way far away for the ground.

where would he be putting a hole ion the floor? are you even reading anything on here?

I didn't see where it was going to be mounted under a seat... won't that be awfully inconvenient to access?

Whatever the case I'd do the exact same thing I posted before, just run a longer wire to whatever is being connected.
If they don't have any extra wire for the ground, then just bolt a larger ring terminal under one of the seat bolts, making sure to sand off any paint to make a better connection.