Amp meter not working!! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

prin · 03-07-2013, 06:07 PM

So I have done some reading and I have replaced the fuses leading to the gauge. I also went and bought another gauge. Darn thing just refuse to work. this was all of a sudden too.

I need some help on this one!

**Ol Blue K20** · 03-07-2013, 06:21 PM

You changed both fuses under the hood and the gauge, how's the printed circuit?

prin · 03-07-2013, 06:48 PM

circuit looks good too. Im clueless

JimKshortstep4x4 · 03-07-2013, 07:33 PM

Check the circuit going to the gauge. There are two small wires that go to the meter. One is black and the other is black with a white stripe. You will have to disconnect the wire from the fender terminal on the passenger side and disconnect the fuse on the driver's side. With an ohm meter check the little black wires that go through the harness to the meter. You can do this by connecting to the wire that was removed from the fender terminal amd connecting to the wire on the driver's side that goes into the harness which feeds the cab. If you don't get a low ohm reading then you have an open circuit, either in the wires, circuit board or meter.

Jim

68gmsee · 03-07-2013, 10:08 PM

My amp gauge started working after I installed several ground straps for rear light failures. Seems like the original bolts that made contact with the frame, cab, etc. are all rusted and full of road grime and don't have good path to battery ground.

First, I made sure I had a new negative cable with good contact to the engine.
Then I installed ground straps from bed to frame, cab to frame, replaced the old one behind the engine to the cab, and installed another from the radiator support to frame.

I made sure I had the small ground wire making good contact behind the gauge panel. Lights were brighter and gremlins disappeared. Amp gauge started working again.

**VetteVet** · 03-07-2013, 11:53 PM

Pull the cluster plug and check for 12 volts between the no.1 terminal and ground and then check for 12 volts between the no.12 terminal and ground. These are the two wire terminals on the end of the cluster plug that JimK mentioned. If you get 12 volts on both terminals then the fuses and wiring is good to the cluster.

Now check for zero to 1 ohm between the contacts that these two wires connect to when the cluster plug is plugged in. If you get that then the gauge and the circuit board is reading as it should. As stated make sure the gauge body is grounded to the cluster panel by reading for zero ohms between the amp gauge and the cluster body.

If you get that reading then check for zero ohms between the cluster body and the truck cab, the cluster has to be grounded for the lights and gauges to work.

Now let me guess, You have bought a newer alternator possibly a one wire and have wired it into the battery terminal on the right fender or have wired the output to a different location than stock such as the starter terminal on the solenoid.

03-07-2013, 06:07 PM	#1
prin Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 172	Amp meter not working!! So I have done some reading and I have replaced the fuses leading to the gauge. I also went and bought another gauge. Darn thing just refuse to work. this was all of a sudden too. I need some help on this one!

03-07-2013, 06:21 PM	#2
Ol Blue K20 Proprietor of Dale's Corner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vacaville , CA Posts: 16,245	Re: Amp meter not working!! You changed both fuses under the hood and the gauge, how's the printed 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

03-07-2013, 06:48 PM	#3
prin Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 172	Re: Amp meter not working!! circuit looks good too. Im clueless

03-07-2013, 07:33 PM	#4
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Re: Amp meter not working!! Check the circuit going to the gauge. There are two small wires that go to the meter. One is black and the other is black with a white stripe. You will have to disconnect the wire from the fender terminal on the passenger side and disconnect the fuse on the driver's side. With an ohm meter check the little black wires that go through the harness to the meter. You can do this by connecting to the wire that was removed from the fender terminal amd connecting to the wire on the driver's side that goes into the harness which feeds the cab. If you don't get a low ohm reading then you have an open circuit, either in the wires, circuit board or meter. 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 Last edited by JimKshortstep4x4; 03-07-2013 at 07:33 PM. Reason: Wording

03-07-2013, 10:08 PM	#5
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: Amp meter not working!! My amp gauge started working after I installed several ground straps for rear light failures. Seems like the original bolts that made contact with the frame, cab, etc. are all rusted and full of road grime and don't have good path to battery ground. First, I made sure I had a new negative cable with good contact to the engine. Then I installed ground straps from bed to frame, cab to frame, replaced the old one behind the engine to the cab, and installed another from the radiator support to frame. I made sure I had the small ground wire making good contact behind the gauge panel. Lights were brighter and gremlins disappeared. Amp gauge started working again. __________________ 68 GMC 250/3 speed Saginaw p/b p/s 69 Chevy 350/350 currently in pieces still lookin for a cab 06 Trailblazer I just want a vehicle that I can work on, that won't talk to me, leave error msgs or keep track of how I drive...

03-07-2013, 11:53 PM	#6
VetteVet Msgt USAF Ret Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 8,718	Re: Amp meter not working!! Pull the cluster plug and check for 12 volts between the no.1 terminal and ground and then check for 12 volts between the no.12 terminal and ground. These are the two wire terminals on the end of the cluster plug that JimK mentioned. If you get 12 volts on both terminals then the fuses and wiring is good to the cluster. Now check for zero to 1 ohm between the contacts that these two wires connect to when the cluster plug is plugged in. If you get that then the gauge and the circuit board is reading as it should. As stated make sure the gauge body is grounded to the cluster panel by reading for zero ohms between the amp gauge and the cluster body. If you get that reading then check for zero ohms between the cluster body and the truck cab, the cluster has to be grounded for the lights and gauges to work. Now let me guess, You have bought a newer alternator possibly a one wire and have wired it into the battery terminal on the right fender or have wired the output to a different location than stock such as the starter terminal on the solenoid. __________________ VetteVet metallic green 67 stepside 74 corvette convertible 1965 Harley sportster 1995 Harley wide glide Growing old is hell, but it beats the alternative.



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