Ammeter Backwards - do I care?

[daveg]

In addition to my persistent rear seal leak (hasn't really gotten better) and installing a SPAL fan, I am trying to work out one last bug this summer. Battery hasn't been charging right - replaced the voltage regulator - still not quite there - after testing again, replaced the alternator.

Before firing back up, one small thing regarding the Ammeter. Mine came with the dash harness factory installed. When I turn out the lights (or anything else) the Ammeter shows postive rather than discarge. Already have the dash off - should I just switch the wires?

(when looking at the back of the Ammeter, Batt is on the right - all of the ACC are on the left).

Saw some other threads - do I care that it reads backwards?

Dave

[Jim Harding]

The way the ammeter is wired will not affect the electrical charge/discharge conditions in your car. It will just indicate charge when in fact your battery is discharging, and vice versa. The fix is to just reverse the two wires that connect to the two posts on the back side of the ammeter. Easier than trying to remember to flip the reading over in your head

Jim Harding
La Plata, Maryland

1982 #3004

[spd4me]

Mine did the same thing. Just reversed wires and works fine.

[will butterworth]

just letting it run dave, and rearend, leaking too, may take a winter spell and fix all of it.Will-alabama

[K.Wilson]

Dave,
I agree it is just a simple swap places with the wires. Just make sure you disconnect a battery cable first, you don't want to make your day any worst than it already is.
Keith

Keith

[Jim Harding]

Good point Keith!

Jim Harding
La Plata, Maryland

1982 #3004

[dmiller]

mine is reverse sensing also, but i keep saying that i'll fix it next time i have the dash off, haven't had to do that, so still reverse sensing.

doug

[bittentoo]

Ditto to what dmiller stated. Does bug me a little that the cars still come out of Unique with the same wiring glitch.

[daveg]

Thanks guys - making the switch tonight.

Good reminder to make sure the battery is off. In my pre-car build days when cared about home remodeling, I once wired two three way and one four way switches for a three story back porch area. (all the lights on each story would turn on or off from any story- hairy looking diagram). I was so proud that it worked on the first time that I forgot to flip the fuse back to off when I was patching in the last light. Nothing like the feeling on a 6 foot ladder of putting the wire cutters through a live wire!!

Thanks again,

Dave

[Mike Geddes]

Dave.
My ammeter has NEVER worked ( 13 years )
Has not proved to be a problem.
Mike

Mike Geddes

[Slither]

Dave,

Hairy looking diagram to say the least [}]!

First try is impressive!

I think many of us know that feeling on the ladder, though [8D]...

Paul

289 FIA

2899464

408 Windsor

Toploader (wide)

3.07 rear

[souzape]

Never cut through a live wire on a ladder but I did inadvertently pee across one of my grandfathers live electric fences when I was little kid. Never liked fooling with electricity since......strange huh?

Phil Souza

[Slither]

[:O][:O][:O]

Paul

289 FIA

2899464

408 Windsor

Toploader (wide)

3.07 rear

[daveg]

Did the fix - no electric shocks....testing involved waking up the neighborhood peeling around.....

do love this car...

Dave