77 Dodge charging system problems
KJP
Its been along time since I have done any wrenching,and seems I have
lost my basic repair knowledge on alot of things,and basically am just
plain old dumb when it comes to electrical,but I have recently purchased
a 77 pickup that is having charging system problems. It looks like it
had been through a "backyard" rewire job at one time.
To the point.The ammeter at idle is on the discharge side,and
accessories like lights,wipers,heater,etc,barely run.As the rpms
increase,it is all fine and dandy. I have changed alternators
twice,regulators twice,battery once,to no avail. The thing will peg the
amp gauge going down the highway and actually has made the wires hot. Im
thinking it is wired wrong,but I dont have any clue to how it is
supposed to be wired correctly.I would be grateful for a diagram or any
help from you guys and gals here. Thanks so much.
Kirk Phillips
BikeDewd
I have a '77 and a '79 Lil Red Express and both trucks have had problems with
the Amp gauge. In fact, there have been fires reported due to the guage.
Here is some information about the Amp
gauge. It is from the Dec. '97 issue of "The Adventurer" Li'l Red Express &
Warlock Club newsletter. There have been dashboard fires caused from the Amp
Gauge. There were two problems: First, the gauge installed by Dodge was a Field
Current type, that requires current to pass through the gauge to measure
amperage, causing heat. The better choice of an Amp gauge would have been a
Shunt type gauge. Second, Dodge used a fiber washer on the high side of the
gauge and as time went on it would expand and contract causing the nut to
loosen.
Take the dash apart and check the connections to the amp gauge. I bet you'll
find loose/corroded connections, causing high resistance in the charging
circuit. The solution is to replace/repair the gauge -- or, remove the wires
and connect them together, bypassing the gauge. That should get you on the
road.
Hope this helps....
Jay
WMPD225
for you.
I took out the dash and bypassed the amp gage. The positive post on the gage
was almost burnt completely up from being loose for years.
This fixed the my charging problem, but I have no amp gage.
This has not been a problem and I did this about a year ago.
Donald
KJP
Will that work ok do you think? Thanks again
Kirk
BikeDewd
>Will that work ok do you think?
Kirk,
From my experience -- and from having the dash apart numerous times -- I don't
think you will find an aftermarket gauge that will fit in the original
location. Especially an Amp gauge because most -- if not all -- gauges are now
Volt gauges. You could add an aftermarket Volt gauge, probably in a bracket
under the dash.
You might have luck repairing the original gauge. On my Lil' Red Express, I
removed (actually broke out, because the heat had melted the plastic around the
studs of the gauge) the Amp gauge and used several nuts and washers to tighten
the studs back on the gauge body and to provide spacing between the back of the
instrument cluster to mount the gauge in the original location. I hooked
everything back up and -- viola -- it works like new. Once you get it apart,
you will see what I am describing. Good Luck.
Tech Jim
clamp on the positive side of your battery. Then probe the field wire (the
alternator should have an "F" stamped next to it's mounting point) If your
test lamp lights up, disconnect the battery cables and then the field wire
from the alternator. If it still lights up, check the field wire in the
connector that goes to the voltage regulator. If it still lights up, then
follow the wire until you find the short to ground.
Just one course of action for you, but the most logical.
Jim
"KJP" <halu...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:38B3E2B2...@earthlink.net...
Litl_Jay (formerly CAD Consultant)
dealer tech while handing out bad advice? I was taking you seriously, then
you suggested a t-harness for trailer wiring. I passed that off and
inserted my $.02, but THIS?
NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER USE A TEST LIGHT IN A TRUCK WITH ELECTRONIC
EQUIPMENT!
It MAY be alright in a 1977, but you don't want to get into the habit of
using them. Get a good meter.
--
Jay
"Our Integrity is the only asset we have that cannot be taken away by anyone
or anything except by ourselves, and we will not allow it to be compromised
for any reason." - Taken from the mission statement of The CAD Specialists
"Tech Jim" <jlilly3airwa...@jefnet.com> wrote in message
news:89abf1$akv$1...@news.speeddial.net...
Kirk Phillips
try and it all seems to work ok so far. The wiring on this thing,and all the
mickey mousing that was done,is beyond words,but it runs good.
Now,does anyone know where I can pick up a good instrument cluster,and maybe
a wiring harness for this thing?
Thanks
Kirk
kevinmc...@gmail.com
Ken Olson
> I have a 77 Dodge Club Cab the original alternator gauge in the dash was maxing out when I Rev the engine. I bought a set of Gauges and mounted them on my dash, the new voltage gauge is also maxing out when I Rev the engine. Any help on how to fix this problem would be Greatly Appreciated
>
is bad.
Ken
Sam Stone
--
chris.n...@gmail.com
Ken Olson
> Hello there. The voltage regulator you are referring to. Is it the one on the top of the gauges on the back of instrument cluster? Or another voltage regulator. Same issue here, van runs, lights work (inside and out), dash lights work, speedo, ammeter etc.... just the fuel, oil, or temp gauges not working... frustrating.
>
the firewall.