Personal Dumbassery; Confirming Upgraded Alternator and Arne's Adaptor Connections!

[Duffman]

Thanks, Mike and Enrique, appreciate the input.

Well, good news, I got the ammeter working!! Love to say it had anything to do with my cleaning connections, etc, but it turns out the gauge in the dash was stuck! I took it apart and freed up the dial and now it swings freely. So now the next problem ... My ammeter gauge is constantly swinging from +30to -30 at idle and from +10 to -10 when driving. I am pretty sure I reconnected everything correctly but have never seen this before.

Ideas?

Thanks,

Stephen

[EScanlon]

Ok, I give....you have an AC voltage alternator?

J/K; Well, actually...not. You DO have an AC voltage alternator, but it gets rectified in the diodes inside it to provide DC. That may be the problem, but I'll admit I'm not sure.

This one is going to require some research.

E

[Duffman]

I got the oil pressure gauge working (bad connection, poor electrician: me!!). Found a short in my dash as I had pushed my clock wires around to the point of crossing a positive and negative wire, thus blowing fuses and wild swings in the ammeter. My ammeter still jumps around a little, but could attribute it to switching from a 40 amp to a 60 amp alternator. Does that make sense?

Again, thanks Arne, Enrique and Mike for your assistance, probably would have electricuted myself on my own!!

[EScanlon]

Excellent!!

Some jumping around is to be expected, it does after all reflect the condition of the charging circuit and whether it's currently + or -. As long as it isn't jumping like if it were a metronome or widly swinging from one end to the ther then it's functioning properly. Note, even a little jumping can be normal, flick on the Hazard lights or Turn Signals and check it then.

Glad you got it working.

E

[MikeW]

My ammeter still jumps around a little, but could attribute it to switching from a 40 amp to a 60 amp alternator. Does that make sense?

When it jumps around a little what is the car doing? If the battery is low and you rev it up I expect the ammeter to jump up a bit as it tries to recharge the battery. If you're idling and turn on the headlights I expect to see the needle jump to the left a bit as takes on the extra load.

Again, thanks Arne, Enrique and Mike for your assistance, probably would have electricuted myself on my own!!

You can't electrocute yourself with only 12 volts so I wouldn't worry too much about that. I don't know that you could electrocute yourself even on the ignition circuit. I don't think the current flow is high enough at those extreme voltages to do more than knock you backwards a few feet. Of course, I'm not willing to get first-hand experience with this.

[Arne]

Glad to hear it! I feel like I had a vested interest in this, what witht eh alternator adapter being involved and all. Pleased to hear that all is now well.

[sblake01]

Well, there is the ignition coil. It won't kill you but it can give you a pretty good bite!

[Duffman]

It does jump from -10 to +10 pretty consistently, and I hear a slight click somewhere that is timed with the flicking ammeter, not sure what it is ...

[EScanlon]

Since you mentioned a short in the dash harness, have you checked to make sure that all was ok? What about your accesory relay?

FWIW

E

[Duffman]

I see the accessory relay, Enrique, on the wiring diagram, but where is it in the car?

Will check it out tomorrow ...

[Duffman]

OK, I read on a prior thread it is on the passenger kick panel, will check it out!!

[Duffman]

I have got my oil pressure gauge working, benchtested my alternator (everything is fine) and have cleaned my electrical connections in the engine bay and the interior under the dash by the passenger side with Deoxit. I am still getting a "dancing" ammeter. It seems to be normal after I start the car and drive a couple of blocks, then at higher rpms it starts to move around between -30 to +30. The lights start to flicker and I am afraid that I am going to screw up something! Is there anyway that I reconnected the ammeter gauge incorrectly (don't think I did) after taking the gauge out and putting it back in before? I am open to any thoughts and ideas ...

Thanks!