The obvious ground to check is the one from the front transmission
mount to the frame.  Get down and get under.
  There should also be a substantial ground cable from the body to the
engine at the driver's side of the engine bay.  It often turns to
powder due to corrosion.

Larry A.

On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 10:41 AM, Matt Sutton <msutts@earthlink.net> wrote:
> Hi Folks,
>
> Getting the van back on the road after a long time mothballed (i.e. parked
> down by the river), and having some starter issues. Here's the facts:
> -new battery (12.5 v at rest)
> -starter rebuilt in the last 2 yrs
> -connections to starter cleaned
> -at the turn of the key, fuel pump audible, but no action from the starter.
>
> In a desperate "try anything" moment, I took my jumper cables and ran one
> leg from the negative battery terminal to the engine bay, clamping onto the
> metal fin that guides the accelerator cable. The van starts immediately.
>
> I understand that this is a ground problem. But where? Do I just do them
> all? Another clue: When the van was running, I measured the voltage at the
> battery, and it was hovering around 12.8v. I my experience, this seems a
> little low: I �normally see 13.5v when the engine's running.
>
> Alternately: is there any reason not to just install a ground point in the
> engine bay that is wired directly to the neg. battery terminal, bypassing
> the chassis ground? Seems like a win for all systems (starter, FI, etc)
>
> Hope you're all well,
>
> Matt Sutton
> 78 GL
>