I didn't want to hijack MikeyMike's battery relocation thread, since the method I'm going to try is different and probably applies to I4 models almost identically.
Aside from that, I'll be relying on you guys' collective experience on this, so this thread will be more of a project journal than a walkthrough until it's done.
In return, I promise to take lots of high-res pics of my car's naughty bits.
I'll be editing the hell out of this post to make sure the information is as accurate and efficient as possible. After all, I wouldn't want someone to try it the same way if I screw this up.
(Don't worry though, I'm not scared of being called out on my mistakes.)
What I'm looking at, is chopping the positive terminal currently connected to my battery (and going to the starter and fusebox,) connecting it with some sort of coupler, and attaching it to a wire of equal gauge that'll run down and away from anything hot or sensitive to heat or electrical interference. Then it'll run along the undercarriage and to the trunk, where the power distribution block and battery (or batteries) will be mounted. That cable will connect to my battery with a two-output terminal (Stinger probably) that'll split off into the Stinger power distribution box I've got coming in the mail.
I wanted to run a wire to the front from the output of the PDB, but then I'd have a problem with the fuse. I don't know if there are MIDI fuses that go up to the amperage range that starters use, and I don't want to just bridge the connection when I could just bypass it.
The negative terminal of the battery, i'll just connect to a sanded-down point on my chassis in the trunk, no fuss.
My biggest questions at the moment are;
What gauge wire goes from the battery to the starter/fuse box? 2 or 4-gauge? (Edit: Took a look on my lunch and it looks like 4-gauge to the starter, and 6-gauge to the fuse box.)
How should I go about connecting that wire to the one that goes under the car? Would something like this work if I put some heat-shrink over it?
http://www.stingerelectronics.com/productDetails.aspx?delineate=503&CategoryID=45&ParentID=31
...Or should I just replace all of the wires?
Also, what type of conduit or wire loom should I go with? I'm trying to research it, but I can't seem to get good price figures or part comparisons.
Aside from that, I'll be relying on you guys' collective experience on this, so this thread will be more of a project journal than a walkthrough until it's done.
In return, I promise to take lots of high-res pics of my car's naughty bits.
I'll be editing the hell out of this post to make sure the information is as accurate and efficient as possible. After all, I wouldn't want someone to try it the same way if I screw this up.
(Don't worry though, I'm not scared of being called out on my mistakes.)
What I'm looking at, is chopping the positive terminal currently connected to my battery (and going to the starter and fusebox,) connecting it with some sort of coupler, and attaching it to a wire of equal gauge that'll run down and away from anything hot or sensitive to heat or electrical interference. Then it'll run along the undercarriage and to the trunk, where the power distribution block and battery (or batteries) will be mounted. That cable will connect to my battery with a two-output terminal (Stinger probably) that'll split off into the Stinger power distribution box I've got coming in the mail.
I wanted to run a wire to the front from the output of the PDB, but then I'd have a problem with the fuse. I don't know if there are MIDI fuses that go up to the amperage range that starters use, and I don't want to just bridge the connection when I could just bypass it.
The negative terminal of the battery, i'll just connect to a sanded-down point on my chassis in the trunk, no fuss.
My biggest questions at the moment are;
What gauge wire goes from the battery to the starter/fuse box? 2 or 4-gauge? (Edit: Took a look on my lunch and it looks like 4-gauge to the starter, and 6-gauge to the fuse box.)
How should I go about connecting that wire to the one that goes under the car? Would something like this work if I put some heat-shrink over it?
http://www.stingerelectronics.com/productDetails.aspx?delineate=503&CategoryID=45&ParentID=31
...Or should I just replace all of the wires?
Also, what type of conduit or wire loom should I go with? I'm trying to research it, but I can't seem to get good price figures or part comparisons.
Last edited: