Amp meter problem

[stepinwolf]

Has anybody ever had the needle on his amp meter point 180' off. I just got back from the alignment shop, and while he was loosening the front bolt on the LH a-arm shaft, his wrench struck the terminal on the horn relay causing a spark.

I immediately used the quick dis-connect battery terminal so that it would not repeat itself, and once the work was completed I drove home. On the way, I noticed that the amp needle was no longer moving, and that it was pointing towards the bottom of the gauge, and no longer seems to move, one way or the other.

I remember having read in one of the NCRS mags, many years ago, that there was an easy was to reverse this situation, but for the life of me I don't remember where I read it.

Anybody ever had this happen, and know of an easy way to get this back to it's correct position, other then having to go through the removal , and replacement procedure.

[JohnZ]

The ammeter polarity has been reversed. Chuck Gongloff ("ChuckG") wrote the article on how to fix that, and I'll quote from it:

"We reached under the dash and disconnected the two-prong connector which attaches to the back of the ammeter. We then connected two alligator clips with wires to the two terminals on the gauge. Then we plugged in the 4-amp trickle charger, touched the terminals of the charger to the two wires from the ammeter, and (like magic) the needle on the gauge rotated back to its normal "north" position. We then disconnected the alligator clips and re-attached the connector to the gauge, and it works fine."

[stepinwolf]

Thank you for your prompt responce, I will certainly give it a try this evening. Is there any polarity issue with the trickle charger and the clips, or is it a, try one side at a time thing, until it works.

I just got off the phone with Brian, from Corvette Spec. of MD, and his reply was that the gauge was fried, and that I should return it for service. I wonder. ?

regards
Bob

[saopm]

stepinwolf,



I am experiencing the same problem. I was adjusting the alternator, then a spark and now the amp meter is doing the 180. Let me know if the trickle charger method works out.

[Ken Anderson]

If the needle no longer moves then the coil in the air core meter is shorted out. I would seek payment from Mr. Badwrench.

[stepinwolf]

I did the reverse procedure with the two wires as described, and the needle came back to the top. However at rest it remains slightly off center when the battery is back on line, and it's use is no longer close enough to the proper functioning mode to be acceptable.

During the time I draw current ( lights, door opening, etc., ) it goes to the discharge side about 5 time further then before. Then when the engine is started, it swings so far to the right side, I thought it was going to flip around again.

Sadly this will have to do for now, because of our short season, I have no intention of sending it out for repair for the time being.

Thanks for those who took the time to respond.

regards
Bob