Need help with amp guage - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**hooverfish** · 12-06-2012, 06:03 PM

Hello, my first post here. My 72 with 350 has amp guage not working.
What are some first steps to trouble shoot? Truck has hei distributor
that seems to work fine. Just trying to get everything working.
P.S. This site is awesome.
Larry

BarryB · 12-06-2012, 06:09 PM

can't help you, but welcome to the site.

WadmalawJoe · 12-06-2012, 08:45 PM

Mine to! but my truck is a 69. Maybe someone can help us both out!
and yes welcome aboard and yes this site is awesome! Thanks to everyone on here!

**Ol Blue K20** · 12-06-2012, 09:09 PM

The first thing you check: On these trucks when the alt went out it blew fuses. There are two, one is in the left front where the fender and rad support meet the other is right front same spot. They holder is about 3/4" long little rubber bullet that comes apart. If that doesn't work (which it usually does) Start looking at the printed circuit it will be meltedon that circuit.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 12-06-2012, 09:12 PM

Welcome to the 67-72 Chevy truck board!

There are two fuses that you need to check that protect the ammeter. There is one on either side of the radiator in the main harness. They are in little rubber cases that look like little footballs. The fuses are 4 amps and most of the time they are the problem. 67 to 72 are the same setup.

Jim

WadmalawJoe · 12-07-2012, 08:06 AM

Thanks Ol' Blue and Jim, I will check that out.
The p.o. installed a aftermarket amp gauge instead of fixing the existing factory gauge. I may need to run new wires. Are there pegs on the back of the factory gauge or is it feed only by the circuit board?
I also have to do the temp gauge, same thing there, p.o. just added a aftermarket.
The fuel gauge wasn't working either but I got that fixed by everyone's help on here!
Sorry Larry, I didn't mean to jack your thread, I just saw you had a similar problem and I was hoping I could get some help as well.

MikeyMan · 12-07-2012, 04:47 PM

How can you test the amp gauge to tell if it's working?

Mine never seem to move.

yuccales · 12-07-2012, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeyMan

How can you test the amp gauge to tell if it's working?

Mine never seem to move.

I'd check both the fuses as mentioned above first. I think they are SFE4 about 5/8" long. The football shaped fuse holders are in the harness kinda behind the battery and down near the voltage reg. (at least mine were) Good luck to ya'.

PAWS 72 · 12-08-2012, 01:07 AM

mine had been working good since I had replaced the circuit board but was all time having to mess with it now it won't work at all. fuses are good also.

My fuse holders are where everyone says they are.And no my harness has never been messed with.Not trying to be smart.

Aaron Burkemper · 12-08-2012, 01:23 AM

I checked my fuses today and replaced them. Ammeter works even with a voltage regulator eliminator installed for the GM internally regulated alternator. Kind of cool.

**hooverfish** · 12-08-2012, 10:25 AM

Thanks for all the help! I replaced my fuses but amp guage still does not work.
Any more advice other than circuit board?
Thanks again. I love finding out stuff like the two fuses under the hood. Also found this documented in the owners manual in the list of fuses.

sduckworth13 · 12-08-2012, 02:40 PM

Get ahold of Vettevet he is a forum member, that dude is amazing. He could help you with your electrical problem. Sounds like a bad ground though.

**VetteVet** · 12-08-2012, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Get ahold of Vettevet he is a forum member, that dude is amazing. He could help you with your electrical problem. Sounds like a bad ground though.

i've seen this thread and was thinking about replying but don't PM me cause I can't post pictures in PMs. Start a new thread in the Electrics forum and we'll get you fixed up. VV

Daddy'O · 12-08-2012, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Get ahold of Vettevet he is a forum member, that dude is amazing. He could help you with your electrical problem. Sounds like a bad ground though.

X2 - Vettevet is a great guy. Take him up on his offer. You won't regret it.

dirtwork · 12-08-2012, 04:25 PM

The amp gauage on my 71 c10 has not worked in the 20 years I have owned it. Never realized those "footballs" were actually fuse holders, I thought they were some type of a fusable link. Checked them today after reading this thread and sure enough one fuse was bad. I picked one up while I was out today and it now works fine! Lots of great information here!

slikside · 12-08-2012, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirtwork

The amp gauage on my 71 c10 has not worked in the 20 years I have owned it. Never realized those "footballs" were actually fuse holders, I thought they were some type of a fusable link. Checked them today after reading this thread and sure enough one fuse was bad. I picked one up while I was out today and it now works fine! Lots of great information here!

This is the beauty of this site! I too have had an issue or two for decades with my truck.....but no longer!! All because of the knowledge found here. So cool!

12-06-2012, 06:03 PM	#1
hooverfish Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 2,147	Need help with amp guage Hello, my first post here. My 72 with 350 has amp guage not working. What are some first steps to trouble shoot? Truck has hei distributor that seems to work fine. Just trying to get everything working. P.S. This site is awesome. Larry

12-06-2012, 06:09 PM	#2
BarryB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Blountville, Tn. Posts: 3,904	Re: Need help with amp guage can't help you, but welcome to the site. __________________ We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp; some are pretty;and some are dull. Some have weird names; and all are different colours;but they all have to live in the same box. You may be only one person in the world, But you may also be the world to one person. * Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. Two rules in life. 1. Never sweat the small stuff! 2. Everything is small stuff!

12-06-2012, 08:45 PM	#3
WadmalawJoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Ravenel SC Posts: 317	Re: Need help with amp guage Mine to! but my truck is a 69. Maybe someone can help us both out! and yes welcome aboard and yes this site is awesome! Thanks to everyone on here! __________________ Toys/projects Many toys, not enough time to play! My youngest son and I picked up a 69 Chevy C-10 on 1/7/22, this is my second 69, it was 10 years ago that I had my other one. So I’m back!!!

12-06-2012, 09:09 PM	#4
Ol Blue K20 Proprietor of Dale's Corner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vacaville , CA Posts: 16,245	Re: Need help with amp guage The first thing you check: On these trucks when the alt went out it blew fuses. There are two, one is in the left front where the fender and rad support meet the other is right front same spot. They holder is about 3/4" long little rubber bullet that comes apart. If that doesn't work (which it usually does) Start looking at the printed circuit it will be meltedon that circuit. __________________ "Some Days Chickens And Some Days Feathers" Dale XNGH ECV Sam Brannan 1004 R.I.P. 67ChevyRedneck R.I.P. Grumpy Old Man R.I.P. FleetsidePaul

12-06-2012, 09:12 PM	#5
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Re: Need help with amp guage Welcome to the 67-72 Chevy truck board! There are two fuses that you need to check that protect the ammeter. There is one on either side of the radiator in the main harness. They are in little rubber cases that look like little footballs. The fuses are 4 amps and most of the time they are the problem. 67 to 72 are the same setup. Jim __________________ 1971 Shortbox step side 4x4, 350 sbc, 3:07 rear end 1965 Impala SS 400 sbc, Muncie rock crusher 1966 Impala SS 396 bbc, TH 400 1969 El Camino, 350 sbc, TH 350 1971 Snowplow built on a Blazer frame 1972 GMC Short bed, stepside, TH 400, 427 BBC

12-07-2012, 08:06 AM	#6
WadmalawJoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Ravenel SC Posts: 317	Re: Need help with amp guage Thanks Ol' Blue and Jim, I will check that out. The p.o. installed a aftermarket amp gauge instead of fixing the existing factory gauge. I may need to run new wires. Are there pegs on the back of the factory gauge or is it feed only by the circuit board? I also have to do the temp gauge, same thing there, p.o. just added a aftermarket. The fuel gauge wasn't working either but I got that fixed by everyone's help on here! Sorry Larry, I didn't mean to jack your thread, I just saw you had a similar problem and I was hoping I could get some help as well. __________________ Toys/projects Many toys, not enough time to play! My youngest son and I picked up a 69 Chevy C-10 on 1/7/22, this is my second 69, it was 10 years ago that I had my other one. So I’m back!!!

12-07-2012, 04:47 PM	#7
MikeyMan Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.W. Chicago, IL. Posts: 317	Re: Need help with amp guage How can you test the amp gauge to tell if it's working? Mine never seem to move.

12-08-2012, 01:07 AM	#9
PAWS 72 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Sheffield, ALA Posts: 2,471	Re: Need help with amp guage mine had been working good since I had replaced the circuit board but was all time having to mess with it now it won't work at all. fuses are good also. My fuse holders are where everyone says they are.And no my harness has never been messed with.Not trying to be smart.

12-08-2012, 01:23 AM	#10
Aaron Burkemper Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Melle, MO Posts: 104	Re: Need help with amp guage I checked my fuses today and replaced them. Ammeter works even with a voltage regulator eliminator installed for the GM internally regulated alternator. Kind of cool. __________________ 1971 C20 "Shreck" 1980 C30 dump bed "Ratchett"

12-08-2012, 10:25 AM	#11
hooverfish Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 2,147	Re: Need help with amp guage Thanks for all the help! I replaced my fuses but amp guage still does not work. Any more advice other than circuit board? Thanks again. I love finding out stuff like the two fuses under the hood. Also found this documented in the owners manual in the list of fuses.

12-08-2012, 02:40 PM	#12
sduckworth13 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Posts: 3,541	Re: Need help with amp guage Get ahold of Vettevet he is a forum member, that dude is amazing. He could help you with your electrical problem. Sounds like a bad ground though. __________________ Scott

12-08-2012, 04:25 PM	#15
dirtwork Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Chardon, Ohio Posts: 81	Re: Need help with amp guage The amp gauage on my 71 c10 has not worked in the 20 years I have owned it. Never realized those "footballs" were actually fuse holders, I thought they were some type of a fusable link. Checked them today after reading this thread and sure enough one fuse was bad. I picked one up while I was out today and it now works fine! Lots of great information here!



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