I have a '69 Charger that I have recently restored. I have a problem with the AMP gauge flickering wildly. particularly at idle. It sometimes even causes the engine to idle poorly (maybe it effects the electronic ignition)

 

Does the amp gauge show discharge then charge?
The old Amp gauges had power running through them unlike todays Volt meter.
Check the connections at the alt and gauge.
Could be bad Gauge and yes it can cause the car to run crappy [:@]
How old is the Voltage reg.?

Bryan

 

Thanks Bryan,

The instrument cluster has recently been rebuilt, (the problem existed before) I have a new alternator and regulator. The gage needle fluctuates a moderate amount normally (say 3 - 5 amps), but on occasion it fluctuates wildly (say aproximately 40 amps) mostly at low rpm. Seems to me like some sort of short? Any other ideas?

 

Check te AMP gauge~They short on the back side of the unit~68 Bee owner~seen it~

 

Any Idea how to fix the short?

 

If the cluster is rebuilt doesn't mean the AMP Gauge is good~Remove and test(look for arc-ing patterns also) The second place to look is the regulator(test/replace) #3,pull the Bulk head wiring connection apart,look for corrosion on the contacts,arcing maybe present here too! My case was a bad gauge,which when I drove down the road it would peg the gauge every now and then(Vibration) and now the last and least I think it might be is a starter silinoid~Good luck~