Battery Relocation - Please Help.

MustangChris · Sep 3, 2008

Hello all.

As you can tell, I am new here. I have been around for a little while just looking and learning.

I need some help with my battery relocation kit. It has turned out to be a bit more confusing than I thought.

I have a 1996 Mustang GT, with bolt ons.

First off, I will tell you what parts I bought for the swap; and where I have looked for information.

Here is the URL to the article I read to get me started. Also, I would like you to make note that I have decided to do this because my black wire (ground I'm guessing) is corroded out.

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/pr...ford_mustang_trunk_mounted_battery/index.html

As you can tell, I don't know ANYTHING about my car's electrical system outside of the fact that you can put diluted baking soda on your battery terminals to keep the corrosion off.

I do not really need to relocate the starter solenoid if I do not have to. Obviously it doesn't look too bad.

So, now its time to let you know how far I've gotton.

I've bought the Moroso battery box, the kill switch, and that's it.

I have not bought any wiring, new terminals, or any other supplies simply because I can't tell what I need and how much I need it.

So, if anyone who has done this before could give me a few pointers, I would be much appreciative.

I plan on buying (from http://www.madelectrical.com/catalog.shtml) the battery relocation help kit Part #TM-2, the battery terminals, and anything else the guy who runs that shop suggests. (I've called him, but he speaks FAR above my head.)

I've taken out my battery and tray. It looks like the ground wire runs down, under the car and it feels like it connects to the engine block. Is this correct? Is this the only place it connects, other than the car body and the battery terminal? The red wire splits off multiple times, once to the fuse box, once to my subwoofers, and once off into my electrical wires everywhere all over my engine bay. Are these the only places the black and red wires run?

Also, what are the NHRA Rules on the kill switch? It says to interrupt the positive (red.) I asked the guy who runs Mad Electrical and he says that that's useless, and more dangerous than anything. I tested it myself and the car does not stop running when i take off the red side of the battery. What is the point? Is it SUPPOSED to stop the motor? Why do I need the kill switch? Is it to simply prevent the power from running AFTER an accident on the track AFTER the motor has already died? Does it have to stop the engine? What will they do in Tech at the track?

:TY: Thanks Guys (and Gals) After I get a little help on this, I'll be sure to take lots of pictures so everyone can tell me what I did wrong. lol

MustangMatt96GT · Sep 4, 2008

when I get home from school. I will tell you how to wire it correctly. I dont wantto type it on my iPod.

MustangMatt96GT · Sep 4, 2008

remove the battery.
remove all the cables that went from the positive terminal to the fuse block.

There is a factory wire that goes from the start to the fuse block...KEEP THAT ONE. I believe its two wires going into the same "terminal." Just cut the battery out all together.

go to the alternator....take the THICK gauge wire off...completely...it would have gone to the battery/underhood fuse box....remove the whole thing. you're rewirining pretty much everything here.

Your NEW wiring setup should go...as follows.

You have your battery mounted in the trunk...mount your battery kill switch where you want it.

now this is EXACTLY HOW your wiring should go to allow the switch to kill the car AND (this is key) disable the alternator.

From the POSITIVE OF THE BATTERY it should go to one side of the battery kill switch....THE WIRE FROM THE ALTERNATOR SHOULD GO TO THE SAME POST ON THE KILL SWITCH!!!! Now one side of the kill switch is attached to the battery and alternator. Attach the OTHER side of the kill switch directly to the starter. THEN from the starter, run a wire to the fuse box under the hood.

From the battery to the switch and the switch to the starter, the wire should at least be a -0 gauge. The alternator wire and from the starter to the fuse block...a -2 gauge is fine.

MustangChris · Sep 4, 2008

:TY: this was a lot of help,

but i would like to go over it again just to make sure i understand. I am terrible with electrical stuff and i really dont want to blow my ECU or something-er-other.

positive = red = + right? i know its on my battery, but im at work and cant just go and pop my hood. lol. so i just want to double check.

negative = black = - = ground right?

one red wire (Wire 1) should go from the BATTERY to "Side A" of the switch. (i have looked at everything, so i do know what the parts are. so if there are any details of the parts, feel free to mention them.) The wire (Wire 2) should run from the ALTERNATOR to "Side A" of the switch (I'm guessing this wire is positive?)

Another red wire (wire 3) (positive) should run from "Side B" of the switch to the starter.

A forth wire should run from the starter to the underhood fuse box.

Can I relocate anything else to lessen the amount of wire used, such as the starter seleniod? also, does running Wire 1 and Wire 2 to the same side of the swich cause any safety issues?

and finally, what will the kill switch do when the car is running and when the car is not running?

I really appriciate the help, please keep in mind that all these terrible and stupid questions are because I'm trying to learn...

thanks again!