So i researched trying to find the most cost efficient mods on my 2006 5AT and of course heard about grounding kits. I read a lot of threads (gordgee's in particular) and considered buying one at the R&D price.

The reason for the kit of course is that ever since i bought the car used it had quite sluggish shifts in manumatic mode, just as people have complained about. There would be a good amount of delay, and i'd always have to shift early to compensate. Grounding kits seem to magically improve this, but the evidence is always user testimony by people who just dumped some money on this kit. Maybe it's a placebo effect or the power of suggestion. Some are for it, some think it's snake oil. I'm a little wary when people post and say "if it didn't work it's because you only have the 8 wire kit, not the super-mega-ultra 10 wire kit!" But i keep an open mind.

Anyway I planned my build and of course first i bought the typical staring parts, and I planned on buying the grounding kit later on. After putting in a z-tube/K&N and motordyne plenum, I reset the ECU using two methods described in the motordyne plenum install instructions, the pedal method (i screwed it up a few times but eventually got the timing right) as well as having the battery unplugged overnight just to make sure.

I drove the car really hard, and i enjoyed the changed sound of my set-up and could tell it was a bit faster on my usual red light--->on ramp run which I do in the same place under the same weather conditions at night in my same conservative manner of no power-braking, just roll and floor it (okay i probably put a bit of wear on my tires but those are expendable, and i'm really itching to get a set of Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas.) I enjoy going 5mph-75mph and hearing the engine run through the gears. However I also noticed something else about my car, just like magic my manumatic shifts were incredibly crisp, nothing like they were before. Because of this I now don't think it's necessary for me to grab this kit since if it starts getting sluggish i can (i guess from the ecu adapting to my normal commute) I'll just reset again. So I was wondering if the grounding kits include a ECU reset or an extended period of having the battery unplugged? Maybe this is what is giving people the great results and not necessarily the kit itself.

Anyway, I guess I just wanted to use my first post on the forums to share that so maybe you guys with 5AT can try resetting the ECU a couple different ways and then driving it hard to see if the car adapts to your new driving style and makes the shifts more responsive. And hey, even if you don't believe me, at least what i'm selling you is free

 

welcome, and EXCELLENT first post.

I can't tell you anything about the grounding kit but I can tell you that the ecu foot pedal reset WORKS.. The down shifts are way better.. I really doubt a grounding kit will help, thats why when my G was all modded out I pretty much avoided a grounding kit..

Its all pretty looks IMO

 

Over 200 people agree that my custom kits work....see for yourself and PM me if you are interested...

https://g35driver.com/forums/group-b...nding-kit.html

https://g35driver.com/forums/reviews...es-review.html

 

Ehhhh....snake oil. I had the GG 12-wire kit and noticed nothing. You are very much correct that these cars have adaptive shift logic. Drive like a grandpa and that's how the tranny and throttle will respond. Drive harder and the tranny/throttle will learn to be more aggressive. I have tons of rentals for work, many of which have manual modes. My 03 G's shift response compared to these later models cars is light years better. The auto is one of the most responsive autos on the market. The 04.5 trannies are even better.

Add paddle shifters like I did and the shift response time improves simply because the paddle only move 1/8" compared to 1/2"+.

 

Am I the only one that noticed SxExCx responded to my post but neglected to address my key question for about the ECU reset?

I did some searching and found the following in thread https://g35driver.com/forums/reviews...es-review.html : (sxexcxs is sean)

"After the install sean resets the ecu with some crazy pedal hacking so i had the first 50 miles to teach the ecu just exactly how i drive. On the drive home i noticed several things. Knowing the said benefits of grounding kits on the way up i played with my manumatic mode so i would see the differences a little more clearly. There is a definite lag in the manumatic mode on our AT cars, after the wires that lag is almost gone, combined with the more accurate throttle response that i noticed it made shifting a lot more fun. "

Coincidence? Currently this convinces me even more that the "grounding kit" is a deception. I do agree that 200 users probably did feel a difference, however this should not immediately be interpretted as the wires doing the trick, it is most likely the result of the other modification these users did: merely resetting the ECU...for a pretty penny.

 

I didnt reset my ECU when I installed my Grounding Kit (GordGee) and I had instant difference in throttle response and shift response. I didnt reset the ECU til much later (months).

 

Thanks, will try the reset!

 

Grounding kit is to to the G what the tornado gas saver is to a Toyota Tundra!!

The grounding kit will ONLY affect your sound system by reducing RF generated noise produced by electromagnetic waves (but you won't notice this since the effect is minimal to nonexistent). No credible, reliable/valid evidence exists that indicates the kit performs as promised: no evidence exists that the G's existing grounding system is defective in any way or below standard for the car.