Does the ecu ground through its brackets in any way?

**99ishVR-4** · 01-06-2013, 12:45 AM

Quick question, I am doing some powder coating on the interior center console supports. I dont think they do, but want to make sure, does the ecu or mfi relay ground through their metal brackets at all? I would take my ecu case off and see myself but its rebuilt and under warranty. Thanks

**stealthee** · 01-06-2013, 01:45 PM

Not that I know of. I have had ECU's just laying on the floor to test things and the car fired right up.

**GTOJOE** · 01-06-2013, 03:57 PM

I can't comment on ours but usually yes they do. Usually the screws that hold the ecu into the housing are ground points so then the housing is screwed/bolted to the car. I could not change the contact points of any major component.

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**anyonebutme** · 01-06-2013, 04:58 PM

99 ECU's have a plastic case......

I've run my car with no case or MFI relay grounding before.

**99ishVR-4** · 01-06-2013, 07:23 PM

Alright well if anyone knows for sure, please post up. I know for a fact that these cars run with the ecu lying on the carpet. I also know that the ptu is supposed to ground through its metal bracket but I have seen a car running fine with it just dangling there with no bracket at all. Just want to make sure it is right, I know there are grounding wires at their connectors, just wondering if they were designed to be grounded through the casings as well. I thought of the 99 ecus case being plastic, but after looking at some pics of them, they have metal brackets to mount them.

**Greg E** · 01-08-2013, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by 99ishVR-4

I know for a fact that these cars run with the ecu lying on the carpet.

I know for a fact they don't.

When you do your coating, keep a bolt in every threaded spot so the threads stay clear. You should be fine if you do it that way.

**Beef6** · 01-08-2013, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by Greg E

I know for a fact they don't.

When you do your coating, keep a bolt in every threaded spot so the threads stay clear. You should be fine if you do it that way.

So you are saying it needs to be bolts to the brackets?

**Greg E** · 01-08-2013, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by Beef6

So you are saying it needs to be bolts to the brackets?

What I'm saying is use bolts as a way to mask the threads. They also sell high temp plastic plugs which can survive 10-15 in the oven too and work well for masking threads.

**Beef6** · 01-08-2013, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by Greg E

What I'm saying is use bolts as a way to mask the threads. They also sell high temp plastic plugs which can survive 10-15 in the oven too and work well for masking threads.

Sorry my last post did not make sense, I meant to ask if you were you saying the ecu needs to be bolted to the bracket to be grounded. I wasn't sure if your reply of "I know for a fact they don't" was agreeing with 99ishVR4 saying that they do not ground through the bracket or saying you know for a fact they do not run if not grounded by the bracket. Sorry for the confusion I just wanted to clarify it.