Ammeter not working.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Ammeter not working.
ok well my orignal Ammeter has never worked in my truck and i was thinking on how to fix it to get it to work? i had a 67 mustang and that Ammeter never worked also and just never know how to fix it any one else have this problem? is it commen?
any one know how to get this thing working again? prehaps what i should check and see what part is bad or how to test if the gauge even works and how it should be hooked up?
thanks!
any one know how to get this thing working again? prehaps what i should check and see what part is bad or how to test if the gauge even works and how it should be hooked up?
thanks!
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Remove the instrument cluster. Remove the nuts on the back of the gauge. clean the flex circuit under the nuts and also at the main connector. smear a thin film of silicone dielectric grease on the flex circuit under the nuts, on the studs, and on the main connector. Re-install the nuts and cluster. The gauge should work much better. If it does not check your wiring diagram for broken connections in the harness. The ammeter wire connections are welded onto the main power lead. The ammeter is measuring a very small voltage drop in the power lead. Any corrosion at a contact will disable the ammeter.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,635
Likes: 349
From: Albuquerque
Be carefull about using an ohmeter to check an amp gauge. The will be no resistance to the current used to measure resistance and it takes almost nothing to peg the meter and possibly damage it.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
has anyone else have this prob and has cleaning and regreeseing the flex curcuit fixed the problem most of the time?
Trending Topics
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
well the meter is not a true amp meter it just moves a little when the voltage drops or climbs like the rest of the gauges it is just a fancy idiot light.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,043
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by ford390gashog
well the meter is not a true amp meter it just moves a little when the voltage drops or climbs like the rest of the gauges it is just a fancy idiot light.
Also the design of the guage in general was not Ford's best offering. The design is too suceptible to dirt and manufacturing variables. How much resistance does a 3 foot piece of wire have? That is what makes the meter operate. I've made mine more sensitive by adding about 10 feet of wire to the shunt.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
I am one of the guys on FTE that brags about the fact :
"I Have an ammeter that works"
Ask yourself if it's worth it
You're the one doing it.
Once the cluster is out you can clean it all up, change the bulbs or take the blue cover off to brighten the lit area of the cluster.
heck now you can even get different colour bulbs for them.
This will start the next 25 years of its life.
EDIT:
I forgot to mention, even if it's working >>>>Once the battery is charged up and running full..the needle doesn't move off the center line anyways.
It moves when the engine is revved up when the battery is low on charge.
"I Have an ammeter that works"
Ask yourself if it's worth it
You're the one doing it.
Once the cluster is out you can clean it all up, change the bulbs or take the blue cover off to brighten the lit area of the cluster.
heck now you can even get different colour bulbs for them.
This will start the next 25 years of its life.
EDIT:
I forgot to mention, even if it's working >>>>Once the battery is charged up and running full..the needle doesn't move off the center line anyways.
It moves when the engine is revved up when the battery is low on charge.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
Mil1ion , you really have a working one wow! that is a historic moment you may just be the first one. to take the cluster out it is pretty simple takes 10 mins and then you can clean up the circuits and gauges i also changed the color of my bulbs to blue but it was a big mistake it makes it even harder on your eyes at night.