Ammeter Wiring

[J_Boo]

So my Ammeter isn't working, it isn't the dummy light but the actual gauge. It has two wires attached to it one is yellow and the other "slips my mind" I found no obvious breaks anywhere. What do you think i should do to make it work? Cut the wires and rewire them? Which if I do that, where does each wire go?

[Kurt Combs]

Are you sure it isn't working? They stay centered most of the time and show very little movement.

[J_Boo]

When I turn it off it's still in the center, when the battery was disconnected it was still in the center. LOL!

[Nitekruizer]

Assuming no one has removed them, rewired it, there should be two plastic in-line fuse holders under the hood close to your battery. Check both of those fuses.

[basketcase0302]

What year truck is this? It always helps if you put your truck(s) in your signature. It looks like a 68/69 in your avatar?

[69Ford]

I spent a lot of time on Ammeter wiring just to find out the factory guage moves very little. Watch very closely when you turn the headlights and high beams on and off.
Research this sight and read all about it Thanks. This is on a 69F100

[basketcase0302]

Here's the amp gauge tutorial guys, I thought it might help? And like posted above most guys here have simply eliminated the amp gauge and went to a volt gauge:
http://www.fordification.com/tech/ammeter.htm

[TNIceWolf]

When I turn it off it's still in the center, when the battery was disconnected it was still in the center. LOL!

The ammeter gauge only indicates a severe over or under charging state of the primary electrical system. It is probably the only gauge I know of that you DONT want to move under any circumstances for any real amount. The amounts of movement are small and almost undetectable in a healthy electrical system. But if the system is failing you will get a reading.....and getting a reading is never good with that type of gauge.

[J_Boo]

It's a 67, 2 inline fuses? I will check those! You all say it isn't suppose to show any movement? Even with the battery unplugged? Is there a way to test that it's working?

[69Ford]

An ammeter gauge only reads if there is a charge or discharge in the system. If there is neither one the needle will stay in the middle. So without voltage from the batery the needle will
Still stay in the middle. Watch the guage very closely and turn on the lights with highbeam if there is any deflection of the guage towards discharge its working. Also after you shut the lights off there should be a slight deflection of the guage towards the charge side. Watch closely Hope this helps. Let me
know.

[Nitekruizer]

It's a 67, 2 inline fuses? I will check those! You all say it isn't suppose to show any movement? Even with the battery unplugged? Is there a way to test that it's working?

These guages don't move very much under normal coditions. Even with my engine not running, my guage only showed a very slight discharge with my headlights turned on. When I say slight, I mean the distance the needle moved was literally only about the thickness of a hair!

[J_Boo]

Hell maybe it works, any way of checking?

[Nitekruizer]

I have tested these ammmeter guages this way. You'll have to remove your instrument cluster from the dash. Unplug the cluster from the wiring harness. The AMP guage has one red wire and one yellow wire attached to it. Connect a test lead to each terminal and momentarily touch the other ends of the leads to a 1.5 volt battery. Use a "AA" or "AAA" type battery like you would find in a TV remote. DO NOT use the truck's battery! CAUTION: Even the little 1.5 volt "AAA" will "peg" the needle on the AMP guage so don't use any battery rated at more than 1.5 volts and don't leave it connected for more than a split second. If the needle moves the guage works. Hope this helps.

[J_Boo]

I have tested these ammmeter guages this way. You'll have to remove your instrument cluster from the dash. Unplug the cluster from the wiring harness. The AMP guage has one red wire and one yellow wire attached to it. Connect a test lead to each terminal and momentarily touch the other ends of the leads to a 1.5 volt battery. Use a "AA" or "AAA" type battery like you would find in a TV remote. DO NOT use the truck's battery! CAUTION: Even the little 1.5 volt "AAA" will "peg" the needle on the AMP guage so don't use any battery rated at more than 1.5 volts and don't leave it connected for more than a split second. If the needle moves the guage works. Hope this helps.

I didn't try that, but I tested each wire and both have power going to them. I started the truck no movement, I turned on heater no movement, turned on head lights no movement, turned them both on at the same time. I just think it doesn't work.