Amp Gauge Blow Up

[RICK LAKE]

Bliss, here's the problem, if you are running an Alt with 60amps or more and have a ampage draw with lights on, electric fuel pumps, blower for heater all running you are over the ampage the insolators on the amp gauge can handle and will melt. I went through the same thing and burnt the 2 wires and cooked the gauge. Do yourself a big favor. Replace the gauge with a voltage gauge from SW. It's black face and nobody will see the different unless you are looking for a 100% perfect cobra. Directly wire the 2 10gauge wires together and leave a pigtail to mount to the voltage gauge. You need a ground wire to the gauge and the light will pop into the new gauge. the new gauge also come with a light. Repair the other wires. I believe in the old days there was only a 37-42 amp charging system. Today we run from 60 to 100 amps depending on was acc you have in the car. I run a 95 amp system with dual fuel pumps, 3 cooling fans. 3 duct fans, ECU for FI system, power for the injectors, and other misc curcuits. Putting the same gauge back in the car will only over time cause the same failure. Make sure you either tape all the wires burnt, replace them or srink tube them and replaced the end connectors to get the tubing on. I used a heat gun at the low setting to get good melting and not damage coating on other wires. Good luck Rick L. After repair make sure the wiring doesn't get hot. You could have a short or rub at another location like behind the ALt. Make sure the Batt wire is not hitting or rubbing at or around the head area. Couple of guys have had this happen to their cars. I have a cover to protect this connection. God luck Rick L. Ps looking for another amp gauge, burnt and going cheap PS depending on how bad the wiring is and location, cut the harness taping back far enought to see good coating and replace wiring from there. Make sure depending on what connectors you use to solder the wire to the connectors. If you use butt connectors, get weather type ones and heat the ends to seal the connector. Also heat the center where the crimp is to melt the solder for a better connection. Don't let it catch on fire or melt the butt connector. Do you have a camera and could shot a couple of pictures to see the damage?? This would help with repairing it. This is not an ERA production failure, it's a gauge failure. Be happy it's not a total failure of the car as it melts to the ground. God was looking over you. Small easy repair. be happy could have been ALOT WORST. What number is your car?? I have 428. This was about the time Bob made some changes to the wiring system. I have an old wiring diagham on my car. I think the wires that burnt where white or yellow??We can fix it. Rick