Common Voltage Issues for EFI Systems

Voltage is the force that propels electricity through a wire, creating current. Voltage is obviously necessary for every electrical component in your car to function, but it can be easy to make a few simple mistakes when wiring your EFI system that cause major headaches. This week, we’ll be taking you through some of the most common problems that EFI installers encounter when working with voltage.

Charge Wire

On the Additional Wires sub-harness included in every Aces LS kit, you will find this yellow wire and plug. This is the Charge Wire, and it is designed to interface with most 3rd-gen LS alternators. This is a vital part of installation! Without that voltage, your ECU will not receive the power it needs to run.

Note: No resistor is necessary to protect the ECU, which has electrical protection built in! Wiring a resistor into the Charge Wire will prevent proper voltage from reaching the ECU.

Grounding the Fuel Pump

Last week, we went over some common problems with grounding. But there’s more to say! Typically, installers choose to ground their fuel pumps to the chassis of the vehicle. This works well, because the alternative is running an extension wire all the way to the battery. But this comes with a risk: if the grounding point to the chassis is painted, dirty, or loose, it might fail during driving. This could cause a short, or even a fire. Make sure the ground is clean and secure!

Connect the PDM to the Battery

We said it last week, but it bears repeating. Our PDM (Power Distribution Module) simplifies grounding by bundling all your grounds together into one simple wire, the “BAT-” terminal. However, all of this is for naught if the PDM isn’t given a secure ground directly to the negative terminal of the battery! If the PDM is grounded to the frame or some other source, you risk an improper ground on all of your components, possibly leading to all manner of voltage issues in the future. When in doubt, ground it out!

That’s all for this week, Aces people. Stay tuned right here on AcesEFI.com for more information and advice on everything EFI related.

Until next time, happy tuning!