C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

76 amp meter problems

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 21, 2007 | 05:27 PM
  #1  
toupstrio's Avatar
toupstrio
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Lufkin Texas
Default 76 amp meter problems

Checked the alt. seems to be working ok. Read the voltage on the back of the gauge had 14 on one side and 11-12 on the other, does this mean the gaude itself is bad since Im reading voltage at both terminals of the gauge?
Reply
Old May 21, 2007 | 05:39 PM
  #2  
Durango_Boy's Avatar
Durango_Boy
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Default

I would suspect either the gauge or the harness ground. Test the ground on the other gauges.
Reply
Old May 21, 2007 | 07:10 PM
  #3  
SIXFOOTER's Avatar
SIXFOOTER
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Default

Aint the gauge, if it was you would have the same voltage on both sides.
Reply
Old May 21, 2007 | 09:20 PM
  #4  
toupstrio's Avatar
toupstrio
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Lufkin Texas
Default

Thanks for the tip I didn't know that.
Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
Aint the gauge, if it was you would have the same voltage on both sides.
Reply
Old May 22, 2007 | 09:43 AM
  #5  
justanotherdoe's Avatar
justanotherdoe
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
Default

Disconnect the gauge and check it with an ohm meter. Should read a dead short. If not, the winding has burned open. I had to re-wind my gauge twice so far. The gauge wire will burn before a fuse blows when you ground one side by accident

btw, I found the correct size green wire at radio shack for the rewind.
Reply
Old May 22, 2007 | 09:51 AM
  #6  
S489's Avatar
S489
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 1
From: AL
Default

seems like Mark, MadElectrical, had a paper on how to protect the shut type ammeters with fuses. as your experience indicates, the factory setup doen't provide sufficient protection for the gauge.
Reply
Old May 22, 2007 | 11:17 AM
  #7  
merlin5353's Avatar
merlin5353
Racer
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 266
Likes: 1
From: S.E. Michigan
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10
Default

Originally Posted by justanotherdoe
I had to re-wind my gauge twice so far. The gauge wire will burn before a fuse blows when you ground one side by accident

btw, I found the correct size green wire at radio shack for the rewind.
Whaaaat ??
Reply
Old May 22, 2007 | 11:31 AM
  #8  
gldnkngt's Avatar
gldnkngt
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Jupiter FL
Default

Originally Posted by justanotherdoe
Disconnect the gauge and check it with an ohm meter. Should read a dead short. If not, the winding has burned open. I had to re-wind my gauge twice so far. The gauge wire will burn before a fuse blows when you ground one side by accident

btw, I found the correct size green wire at radio shack for the rewind.
One way to avoid this is to put a 2 amp in-line fuse in. Saves the extra work of having to rewind a burnt gauge.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old May 22, 2007 | 12:26 PM
  #9  
justanotherdoe's Avatar
justanotherdoe
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
Default

Originally Posted by merlin5353
Whaaaat ??
Less expensive to rewind the gauge than to buy a replacement if you have soldering iron/gun, solder, etc. You can drill out the rivets that hold the housing, rewind the coil (12 loops with correct gauge green wire for ammeter if I remember correctly), replace the rivets with small black bolts from the rc model hobby shop and you're back in business.
Reply
Old May 22, 2007 | 10:00 PM
  #10  
toupstrio's Avatar
toupstrio
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Lufkin Texas
Default

Thanks for the info.
Originally Posted by justanotherdoe
Less expensive to rewind the gauge than to buy a replacement if you have soldering iron/gun, solder, etc. You can drill out the rivets that hold the housing, rewind the coil (12 loops with correct gauge green wire for ammeter if I remember correctly), replace the rivets with small black bolts from the rc model hobby shop and you're back in business.
Reply
Old May 23, 2007 | 01:42 AM
  #11  
7T1vette's Avatar
7T1vette
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Default

The gauge reads in amps....but it is really a very low voltage voltmeter. It actually reads differential voltage between two 12v. power lines. A length of wire in the circuit acts as a current shunt so that it is calibrated to read amp draw(or charge). Anyway, a 1.5v battery will peg the meter...and burn it out if left on for more than a second or two. It is a good way to determine if the meter is working or not. You should read something in the 12v range at either ammeter terminal on a working system.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 76 amp meter problems





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:14 PM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE