The main one is the ground to the engine, when the starter turns it takes a lot of amperage and without a good ground it can do damage as the power finds a new path. So say you have only a good ground to the frame of the truck, you turn the key and the electrons go from the battery, through the starter and to the engine block, now there is no good ground so they look for a path of lowest resistance. Usually that is going to be through places where metal meets metal like through bearings, small areas of the engine mounts, other wiring to the engine.
Then you want the chassis to have a good ground because there are items mounted to it that take power to operate as well, and those need grounds. Lastly you have the body ground, that handles things like the lights, radio, dash and more. Generally I will add a heavier ground from the engine to the body as well as the smaller one near the battery. That way the small ground act's similar to a fuse, if the main larger ground fails the smaller wire will heat up and char the insulation, telling you that the main ground has an issue. For that ground the easy way is to use a simple braided ground strap like the image. Those work better than cables if you add them at the engine because the engine motion can break regular cable due to work hardening. The braid allows more flex. Usually I'll put those between a stud or bolt on the rear of the engine over to a good connection on the firewall.
Then you know that everything attached to the truck has a good ground.
Image (Click to make bigger)
Friday, August 20th, 2021 AT 5:24 AM