@jrichker OK I got the ground installed from the back batteries all the way up to the engine block. It's a 1/0 welding cable with copper lugs, bolted to shiny clean metal.
The cold start was perfect, hot start after I let it heat soak not so much... it's way better than before but my voltmeter is showing only 9v at the solenoid cranking.
I have not replaced the positive cable yet, I have the 1/0 welding cable to do it with just need time. Do you think the cable that is on there now is the issue? (Basically wire for amplifiers, came with battery relocation kit looks cheap)
Use the voltage drop test to find where you are losing voltage. While the tech note says grounds, the principle applies to any electrical connection, be it power, ground or signal
Voltage drop testing of connections and grounds.
Use a Digital Volt Meter (DVM) to measure the voltage drop across a connection or wire. Adding length to the test leads may be required, and does not affect the accuracy of the test. Use 16-18 gauge wire for the test leads if you have to lengthen them.
Voltage drop increases with the increase of current in a circuit and it also increases with heat. Put a maximum current load on a bad wire or connection and it gets hot and drops more voltage across the wire or connection. As it heats up, resistance increases which makes more heat. Round and round you go in a vicious circle until something catches fire or fails.
Voltage drop testing must be done while the usual load is on the circuit. If it is a starter, it has to be tested while cranking the starter. If it is lights, A/C or fan, they must be turned on high while testing. Fail to do this and you will not get accurate results
1.) Most grounds use the negative battery post as their starting point. Keep this in mind when checking grounds.
2.) The voltage will be small if the ground is good: less voltage drop = better connection.
3.) Be sure that the power to the circuit is on, and the circuit is being used in its normal manner. For instance, if it is a light circuit, the lights on that circuit should be powered on.
4.) To measure grounds, place one DVM lead on the battery negative post and the other on the wire or connector that goes to ground.
5.) 5.) Voltage drops should not exceed the following:
200 mV Wire or cable
300 mV Switch
100 mV Ground
0 mV to <50 mV Sensor Connections (sensors are low voltage devices and small drops can have a large effect on the devices dependent on sensor accuracy)
0.0V Connections
A voltage drop lower that spec is always acceptable.
6.)
See http://assets.fluke.com/appnotes/automotive/beatbook.pdf for help for help troubleshooting voltage drops across connections and components. .
go me.
Raggedy............always coming up with expensive assed solutions to cheap assed problems.
