OBS GMT400 Electrical Issues? Replace Your Ground Straps!

In this video I show the location and replacement of the grounding straps on my 1998 Chevy K1500 with the 350ci engine. This replacement procedure will be identical or very similar to most 1988 and up GMT400 platform vehicles. Be sure to like, share and subscribe for more upcoming OBS Chevy adventures!
Updated video on attaching the fuel filler neck ground strap • OBS GMT400 Rear Ground...
Introduction to when I got my OBS Chevy • No regrets buying this...
At minimum the parts required:
- Dorman 15" ground strap (need 1 for rear and 1 for front) amzn.to/47NjXkJ
- 20" ground strap modified to use in the front (only 1 required, ideally with 1/2" and 3/8" eyelets) amzn.to/47SHd0W
Tools used in video:
- Flexi ratcheting wrench set I used in the video www.harborfreight.com/flex-he...
- Stubby flexible ratchet similar to what I use amzn.to/3EcjeMm
Instagram @ weakest of weeks: / weakestofweaks
Feel free to contact me at: [e-mail]
DISCLAIMER: This video, description, and comments contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!

[@WeakestofWeeks]

Turns out my workaround for the fuel filler ground repair is incorrect! My way just connects the bed together in 2 separate places which is rather useless. The proper way is for the actual metal filler neck to be grounded to bed. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmnUZpaheL6KpLM is the updated video for the filler neck ground strap

[@dropdestroy]

Was gonna say lol. Honestly easiest way is just to swap the neck. The strap is riveted on.

[@mr.createandfix5504]

Might keep static from igniting fuel vapor. I think thats why its there

[@brandonrobishaw7606]

I did that before and my fuel pump didn't work anymore It was grounded through the filler neck

[@slownloud9743]

Much respect man, js you actually acknowledged the mistake and didn’t just leave us all hanging lol 💯

[@chefman45887]

Replacing all of my straps tomorrow. On my 88 3500 , the worst one to reach/remove is the one on the back of the passenger cylinder head. Also when removing the nuts and self tapping bolts spray them down with PB blaster or WD40 a day in advance to make them easier to break loose. Solid video , thanks for sharing!

[@limited50scla]

Forgot about this video, cleared my watch history and search history due to stupid videos in feed on KZbin. This one popped up again 🎉 Went to the junk yard and pulled 2 grounds from a OBS, which had the engine and radiator support removed. Measured the length of the grounds straps and the diameter of the ends. Going to get some battery cables and a power to fuse cable made along with the grounds. Cheaper than going to dealer ($400 for all the cables minus the grounds ) 👌🏻

[@williamtowery3586]

Thanks for the information,much help

[@stevemas4966]

Great Videos, excellent mechanic

[@d4ve587]

I love those old trucks usable classic 😁

[@davidsartin5708]

You missed the idea of the first ground strap. It is there to ground the metal filler pipe to the body ground to prevent a static spark. All you did was to ground the body to itself. The cup inside the filler door is plastic on most vehicles. You need that ground strap to be grounded to the metal filler tube.

[@martinkolff5606]

Don’t want to be an ass but your fuel filler neck is made out of metal and isn’t grounded anymore. You grounded the side panel to the frame which is allready grounded. Maybe you have to try to drill out that rounded bolt and put in a bolt to secure the strap.

[@WeakestofWeeks]

No offense taken and I appreciate you respectfully pointing that out! You're totally right though I didn't even think about that. Basically right now I just connected one portion of the bed to a different section which is pointless. Since there is a plastic piece in between the metal filler neck and that inner metal bed side, I bet that's why that grounding strap is there in the first place. I'll work on an update to correct. Thanks!

[@martinkolff5606]

You’re welcome. Just wondering why you did that in the way you did. But he. It’s not a Saab. Like your videos about that and learned a lot of it. To bad we don’t have scrapyards here you can walk into. I have a 2003 93 sedan with an 1.8t engine. Actually it’s the same 2 ltr engine but tuned down to 150 hp. Tuned it now to 225. Brilliant. Keep up the nice work.

[@joneastman5627]

I was wondering about this an thanks

[@michaelwebb8348]

im pretty sure its primarily there to ground the fuel tank and prevent spark, and also the fuel related pumps and relays

[@diamonddave8938]

Great Video! Thanks. My 98 K1500 has another ground from the fender near the battery to the front of the block, under the alt.

[@WeakestofWeeks]

Thanks for sharing! I'll have to take a closer look at mine

[@DocZoidberg549]

I have three late 90's OBS's, I have replaced most of them. I have worked on GM products for 40 years, they all have the issue. Great vid for newbies.

[@migoabu3928]

What r the issues they will or could have ?

[@DocZoidberg549]

@@migoabu3928 There are a few. It's hard to list them out in the comment section. Single issues are much easier to explain.

[@mark98070]

Is this also the case for the GMT800s?

[@DocZoidberg549]

@@mark98070 Yes

[@DiegoLopez-ii7ve]

How many are in total, beside these ones, saw one little wire from the Neg to the inner fender... also with the ones that goes inside the cab..!! Appreciate, im replacing all of them before chasis swap

[@kenwinchester]

I have a 1998 Chevy K1500 with the 350 engine and I do a lot of my own maintenance. This has been a great video for me. I will check my ground straps for integrity and replace if necessary. Although I’m not quite to the level as you for OCD I do tend to overthink sometimes. I’m very impressed with your quality of video and presentation skills. Thanks for your efforts and I did subscribe.

[@WeakestofWeeks]

Thanks for the comment friend!

[@codysteele9889]

​@@WeakestofWeekswill the ground strap near the fuel pump cause the fuel gauge not to work? I Just replaced the fuel pump an I seen a old ground strap that's broken everything works but the gauge would that be my problem? Please help I'm lost now

[@user-th7im1fy6z]

Will a bad ground effect the cam position sensor low voltage.. or maf low voltage

[@blackjackshooter6547]

Thank you so much for sharing

[@user-om5eh5xv8y]

Is there just two grounds the strap and the harness ground I’m putting motor back in truck and making sure all grounds are covered this diagram I’ve been looking at says there’s there grounds straps that go to the stud behind the left cylinder head

[@marvinrussell7763]

The ground wire connecting to the gas tank neck is to keep from having a spark whenever you put the gas nozzle in to fill your car up. Connecting to the door does not work.

[@ZIGZAGBureauofInvestigation]

Yeap USE the hole to the right ! as a ground. Not the body of the truck.🔥

[@savoielvis1]

Thank you!!!

[@griffinhammond9747]

Any clue why my truck does not have the stud below the two heater hose? I had two ground straps at the frame point but I am not sure where the one went too that should be below the hose. I have a 1999 OBS Chevy with a 5.7

[@alexandrorodriguez1442]

Would you happen too know bolt pattern for frame bolt that holds down the straps ?

[@tarbeau8561]

Thanks for sharing this video and where to find most of the hard to find grounding straps. Also, not having a hooked up ground, would that drain a battery? Thanks in advance. My battery keeps dying and getting drained. I've replaced the battery, starter and had my alternator checked out. Still get drained batteries. So, I installed a manual power cut off from my battery to my starter and (knock on wood) no more problems with dead batteries. Thanks again for any help

[@JamesSmith-xs7sr]

Get a cheap multi meter, go inline negative circuit at battery. Under 50 miliamps is fine. (.050 amps) If its higher, start pulling fuses, watching for amp drop. When you find the offending fuse/circuit, get a wiring diagram & isolate the culprit. Google parasitic draw testing if you need more info. Once understood, its easy on these older vehicles...Make sure you understand how to set the meter up proper.

[@irishuwould5185]

Do you know the size of the bolt for the filler neck ground strap that goes to the frame? I know it’s 10mm but I need the actual bolt size. I’m missing mine. My strap is dangling.

[@JamesSmith-xs7sr]

I removed, cleaned all my grounds, treated them with Deoxit spray... T stat housing ground went from .3 volts to .05 volts, engine running. (98 GMC Sierra)

[@chizzlebeatz]

cluster still lights up. but the area where it shows your fuel level is dim. which ground would be that?

[@Jvremodeling392]

will his cause the light battery to turn on

[@corpuscuhh6598]

Mine is broken off what is that ground for?

[@jaycc..]

If the ground is cut in half will it not start ?

[@GwinnettLawns]

The ground strap on the filler neck is to dissipate and electrical potential and prevent static electricity from igniting fuel vapor. You need to attach it to the neck as originally. You basically ran the strap from the body to the body which has done nothing.

[@user-xg6vz4fk3o]

I have a 2000 Chevy Silverado having problems with all interior electrical systems they come on and then they go off. I will try your your way to solve my problem tomorrow. I think that is the problem because I had an asshole change out the motor and nothing worked the day I got it back but he said he didn’t do nothing wrong ha ha ha thank you very much I will try it and I will let you know. Thank you

[@MarshallSmith27]

how did it go?

[@thndr_5468]

Does it not matter if the ground strap is touching the filler neck?

[@claysteinbrink9559]

Just to let you know you just grounded the body to the body the ground strap going to the gas filler neck is for the filler neck when you stick the gas nozzle into your car the nozzle grounds to the steel gas tube good try awesome idea

[@alexobs13]

So the two ground straps under heater hoses you only kept one ??

[@WeakestofWeeks]

No, I removed 2 and replaced with 2 new ground straps. There is one that goes from the frame to the firewall under the heater hoses. Then there is a 2nd that goes from the same frame location but to the back on the engines cylinder head.

[@alexobs13]

Oh ok cause I have two ground straps under my heater hoses I have to check the one in the back of the motor. Checking all my grounds cause I’m not getting any power to the passenger door on my 91

[@buickrepairs1713]

How does that ground the fuel tank at all? Where you put that new ground seems to have no metal connection to where the old one was. You're connecting the body to the body..

[@WeakestofWeeks]

One of those things I didn't realize until after the fact. I ended up redoing the filler neck ground to connect it properly: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmnUZpaheL6KpLM

[@TheUndertoe]

You can shorten those ground straps just cut em how ever long you want em and crimp a new ring terminal on that’s what I did on mine

[@TheUndertoe]

And if you break the stud under the heater hose you can just get a big self taper and it should snug up

[@blixiee4925]

I took a bolt out of my inner fender and screwed it right in

[@TheUndertoe]

@@blixiee4925 that’ll work too

[@Angell365]

I have a 1998 obs chevy, has a problem starting, changed the battery, changed the alternator, changed distributor, did the timing belt and still wont start. Had a mechanic told me it could be something electrical any advice?

[@codysteele9889]

Will it start with starting fluid? How is it coming out of the injectors dripping or nothing at All?

[@JamesSmith-xs7sr]

Connect a fuel pressure gauge at the test port. Key on cyle should yield at least 60 lbs. Crank engine over. Turn off. Fuel pressure should remain somewhat constant for at least 15 minutes. If it drops instantly, you have a bad fuel pump check valve, leaking injectors, or faulty fuel pressure regulator. Look inside the throttle body. If you see/smell raw fuel, pressure regulator is likely at fault The Injectors need around 60 psi to pop off/run the engine.

[@chizzlebeatz]

ignition switch?

[@weirdgamerincxpected2882]

You have to run the drill in reverse to drill eyelets bigger will get very hot however it'll drill there with ripping it.

[@WeakestofWeeks]

Good tip, thanks for sharing!

[@DuctTapes78]

Umm, theres a reason why the grounding straps come uncoated, any water intrusion will not be able to dry out and will cause the straps to rot out faster, and also they use straps like that to allow better flexibility.

[@Obs-junior]

The ground to the filler neck what if it’s not bolted up in my truck do I need it to

[@edwardaunchman71]

Bolt 2 shorts to make 1 long

[@busterrapoza8668]

You went from the bottom of the bed to the fender, the same ground you did not go to the gooseneck where the metal is your side panel and your gooseneck has a piece of plastic in between it. You need to go to the gooseneck with the ground strap that is to sew itwill not spark or have a static electricity check your work you’ll see what I’m talking about

[@not.lxtr3l1]

Why not replace it with a ground wire

[@tylergress7297]

That supposed to go the filler neck so the tank is grounded

[@MegaBolens]

Congratulations you grounded the bed back to the bed for the first one and did nothing for the filler neck

[@kurtdussander4944]

Yeah I seen that said I bet half the comments are people pointing it out to him.

[@tomreyes4908]

Salvage yard is a good place to find those straps with a fraction of the price

[@michaelbrown-zi6ev]

no you done nothing on fuel tank one........wrong wrong wrong

[@michaelbrown-zi6ev]

your ground to fuel tank the plastic is separating it lmao ground the bed to the bed ok

[@WeakestofWeeks]

Yep realized that after the fact kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmnUZpaheL6KpLM

[@dinoprather1254]

If you can't do the repair wright,dont lead others wrong !!!

[@WeakestofWeeks]

It's okay to make mistakes.. you even made a mistake using "wright" instead of "right" 😄 The incorrect rear strap replacement has already been resolved but I appreciate the words of encouragement 🤪 kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmnUZpaheL6KpLMsi=H3o9Phu6Yj2qMgEz

[@kurtdussander4944]

U shooten cridisize utters when we’z awl has are own fawlts.

[@alanprice8284]

Be nice