Amp gauage troubleshooting
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Amp gauage troubleshooting
73 ranchero gt with amp gauge in the cluster.
Any common problem associated with gauge not working?
I want to keep vehicle orginal and don't want to replace gauge with a voltmeter.
I replaced the gauge thinking it was bad, but it still doesn't work?
What is the best way to troubleshoot?
Happy New Year.
Any common problem associated with gauge not working?
I want to keep vehicle orginal and don't want to replace gauge with a voltmeter.
I replaced the gauge thinking it was bad, but it still doesn't work?
What is the best way to troubleshoot?
Happy New Year.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,025
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From: Virginia
Sorry to say, but most if not all factory ammeters never worked very well at all. You may see it move if you very carefully stare at it as you start the vehicle.
If you would like to investigate a little further, make sure the wiring is original out at the alternator and the starter relay on the inner fender.
The factory ammeter is really a very sensitive voltmeter. The power for the whole vehicle is tapped off a small wire going to the large bat + terminal on the starter relay. Someplace along this wire, you should see the two smaller wires that go to the ammeter. They should be spliced on either side of a special piece of wire called a "shunt". The shunt is a very small resistance that creates a voltage drop. The ammeter in the dash reads this small voltage drop, and converts it to a amp reading on the gauge.
If you would like to investigate a little further, make sure the wiring is original out at the alternator and the starter relay on the inner fender.
The factory ammeter is really a very sensitive voltmeter. The power for the whole vehicle is tapped off a small wire going to the large bat + terminal on the starter relay. Someplace along this wire, you should see the two smaller wires that go to the ammeter. They should be spliced on either side of a special piece of wire called a "shunt". The shunt is a very small resistance that creates a voltage drop. The ammeter in the dash reads this small voltage drop, and converts it to a amp reading on the gauge.
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