Weird electrical problem
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 384
Likes: 25
From: Granbury TX
Weird electrical problem
This one's got me scratching my head real good. Yesterday I started the 61 to go to a local car show and it started kind of strange in that the ammeter shot way over to the positive side then settled into the middle. After about 15 minutes of driving I stopped to get coffee and when I tried to start it I got zilch as if the battery was completely dead the ammeter needle pegged all the way to the positive side. Tried this a few times and got the same results. Had the wife bring the jumper cables and it started right up so I went home instead of continuing to the car show.
Here are some of the things I have tried so far to figure it out:
1.) Pulled the 8 month old battery and had it tested, it tested good.
2.) Pulled the generator so I could see if the brushes were ok and they were.
3.) Checked all the wiring from the dash to the starter and didn't see anything shorted out.
4.) Pulled the cover off the voltage regulator and examined the points, they were clean and looked like new.
5.) Re-installed the battery and the car started right up. The ammeter needle went a little negative then settled into the mid range.
6.) Turned the engine off and key to the lock position and turned on the headlights...here's where it gets weird...the ammeter gauge went positive about 1/4". At the same time I pressed on the brake and it went even further positive. If I'm right it should have went negative.
I'm concerned I might have the same problem as yesterday if I venture out today so I will wait and see what feedback I get from the forum members and try whatever I may have missed......Mike
Here are some of the things I have tried so far to figure it out:
1.) Pulled the 8 month old battery and had it tested, it tested good.
2.) Pulled the generator so I could see if the brushes were ok and they were.
3.) Checked all the wiring from the dash to the starter and didn't see anything shorted out.
4.) Pulled the cover off the voltage regulator and examined the points, they were clean and looked like new.
5.) Re-installed the battery and the car started right up. The ammeter needle went a little negative then settled into the mid range.
6.) Turned the engine off and key to the lock position and turned on the headlights...here's where it gets weird...the ammeter gauge went positive about 1/4". At the same time I pressed on the brake and it went even further positive. If I'm right it should have went negative.
I'm concerned I might have the same problem as yesterday if I venture out today so I will wait and see what feedback I get from the forum members and try whatever I may have missed......Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,869
Likes: 196
From: Maryland
A fast test would be to polarize the generator. Short the battery pole on the VR to the armature pole for a second. Im going to assume that this started recently and is not because the back of the gauge is wired in reverse.
8th Gear
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Make sure the connections on the ammeter are tight. I had a problem like this years ago and it drove me crazy. I didn't find it until I went to change a light in the ammeter and tightened what seemed to be a loose connection. I never had the problem again.
Ernie
Ernie
