Amp Gauge INOP (Newbie)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
Amp Gauge INOP (Newbie)
Greetings Folks,
I have recently purchased a 73 Stingray and just recently jpined the forum. I have past experience with Chevy hot rods, but none with Corvettes.This is the first of what I expect will be many questions. The Amp gauge is stuck at about +30amps and does not move. before I start taking the dash apart, is there any way to test it under the hood to get an idea of where to go with it, or should I just start at the rear of the gauge. Any information on what/where to probe at what the read out's should be would be appreciated.
thanks - patrick
I have recently purchased a 73 Stingray and just recently jpined the forum. I have past experience with Chevy hot rods, but none with Corvettes.This is the first of what I expect will be many questions. The Amp gauge is stuck at about +30amps and does not move. before I start taking the dash apart, is there any way to test it under the hood to get an idea of where to go with it, or should I just start at the rear of the gauge. Any information on what/where to probe at what the read out's should be would be appreciated.
thanks - patrick
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
I don't think you can test it from under the hood. The amp guage actually measures a voltage drop across a known resistance piece of wire, most likely under the dash. Take the dash out, dosconnect the wires on the guage and check the guage with an ohm meter. If it is good it will have some measurement value both directiond and depending on the ohm meter your useing it may deflect the needle. If it shows Open with the meter it is dead.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Naperville IL
My '73 Amp gauge was dead as well. It turned out I had two problems. I had a burned out fusable link (it was right behind the distributor, against the firewall) and the wiring was burned out in the meter. I soldered in a new fusable link and opened the amp meter for a look. It's a pretty simple device. I just replaced the burned wiring with a similar size magnet wire and put it back together. No problems since!
- Kevin
- Kevin
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Naperville IL
I might add that you can indeed test the circuit under the hood. You just need to take a look at the wiring diagram in the service manual. I believe you go from one of the terminals on the alternator plug to the back of the meter. That will check the fusable link. Then, you check the meter. Then you check the connection from the meter to the battery.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
Thanks. I am waiting to receive the wiring diagrams and service manuals I ordered. So Kevin, if I read your comment correctly, one wire from the ammeter connects to the alternator, and the other to the battery? Is that correct?
