The ammeter's position when the battery is disconnected shows you the zero
charge/discharge position on your particular gauge. Tap on the face of the
gauge gently to make sure it isn't sticking off zero. Whatever position it
comes to rest in is the true zero charge/discharge position, regardless of
what the dial graduations tell you. If this zero position moved, the
ammeter must have been subjected to either a mechanical shock, an electrical
shock (read "overload") or a magnetic field. You can live with it the way
it is by noting which way and how far it moves during changing conditions of
known drain and charge situations, or you can replace the dash unit with a
known good one.
To check to see if your charging system is working, start the engine, then
pull one battery cable off. If the engine keeps running, you know the
alternator is putting out at least some charging current at idle. You can
increase the electrical load until the engine stalls, that tells you how
healthy the alternator is. If you can keep the engine running at fast idle
with the headlights on, you have a very healthy charging system.
Dick Benjamin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Savard" <res03r3f@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 11:44 AM
Subject: IML: 68 Crown charging system
> Hi all,
> After 2 dead batteries away from home I finally figured out something
> was amiss. I had Kragen check the charging system and was told it showed
> no charging system output. At that time the needle was dead center of
> the small band in the center of the Alternator gauge,whether the car was
> running or not. I installed a new Voltage Regulator and a used
> Alternator I had in the garage. The Alternator gauge now shows an
> increase on RPM(it did not before) and shows a decrease(but not
> discharge as judged by headlite output) which is immediately picked up
> by charging system. The problem is when the car is turned off the alt
> gauge needle stays at the first mark to right of center-about halfway
> between center of gauge and full charge(extreme right). it will not
> return to center when turned off. It does show charge and discharge at
> this "new" center when the car is run with equipment turned off and on.
> What could cause this "new" center for my gauge?
> Thanks
> Don Savard
>
>
>
>
Back to the Home of the Forward Look Network