Where does this ground wire go to?

[Z71Craig13]

2003 Tahoe 5.3L z71. Found this ground wire disconnected and can’t figure out where it goes. Any help or photo greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Tonyrodz]

That's the one that bolts to the underside of the hood.

 

[Z71Craig13]

That's the one that bolts to the underside of the hood.

Thanks! No wonder I couldn’t figure out where it goes

 

[ScottyBoy]

That's the one that bolts to the underside of the hood.

That's what it looks like to me as well.

 

[Z71Craig13]

Is it needed? I don’t know what its purpose is.

 

[ScottyBoy]

Is it needed? I don’t know what its purpose is.

It's the ground for the underhood light. If it's hanging loose, then I would assume that your underhood light is broken or else there is no light on the underside of your hood. Another possibility is if the hood was painted at some point and the body shop never reconnected the ground to the hood.
But to answer your question better about "Is it needed?" No, it's not necessary if you are not worried about the underhood light working. The truck will run just fine with it unhooked.

 

[ScottyBoy]

This is the underhood light that I am referring to. There should be a hot and a ground connected to it and it has a built in switch that turns it on when it tilts up.

 

[Tonyrodz]

It's the ground for the underhood light. If it's hanging loose, then I would assume that your underhood light is broken or else there is no light on the underside of your hood. Another possibility is if the hood was painted at some point and the body shop never reconnected the ground to the hood.
But to answer your question better about "Is it needed?" No, it's not necessary if you are not worried about the underhood light working. The truck will run just fine with it unhooked.

My 03 has that ground strap, but it didn't come with the underhood light. GM stopped that starting with 03.

 

[rockola1971]

My 03 has that ground strap, but it didn't come with the underhood light. GM stopped that starting with 03.

Yup, neither of my 2003 tahoes have it nor my 05 Denali.

But I would reattach it. What can happen is the hood doesnt get to ground potential because of corroded hinge connection (electrical) and what will happen is you will get some small current flow toward the hood and you can get arcing (very tiny) at the hinge mounting bolts or anywhere the hood has paint missing or thin where the hood is up against exposed metal (thin or missing paint on fenders). It will burn spots over long periods of time. The spots will start to look like pinholes.

 

[ScottyBoy]

My 03 has that ground strap, but it didn't come with the underhood light. GM stopped that starting with 03.

I'm STILL clueless about a few of the smaller changes that GM did in 03. LOL
Like I just recently realized that the map lights in the overhead console also turned on with the dome light in 03+ trucks. I had to rewire mine and add a relay and two diodes in order to get them to turn on with the door switches AND still function as normal button operated map lights when the doors are closed.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I'm STILL clueless about a few of the smaller changes that GM did in 03. LOL
Like I just recently realized that the map lights in the overhead console also turned on with the dome light in 03+ trucks. I had to rewire mine and add a relay and two diodes in order to get them to turn on with the door switches AND still function as normal button operated map lights when the doors are closed.

It's an ongoing learning process. GM has no rhyme or reason in the things they do. Back in the day you could get cars with power locks and manual windows. Go figure.