1988 Turbo Coupe ammeter not working. April 08, 2017, 08:38:54 AM Hey guys, My first post went so well and I got a lot of useful advice I though I'd post again. I got the fuel problem taken care of now I have another question. The ammeter gauge doesn't work and hasn't since I've owned the car. The needle stays a little above center. From what I've read this is a common problem. I don't know if that's true or not. Is there a fix for this? It doesn't really bother me but I would be nice to have everything working. I have a couple of spare clusters I got on eBay and the sellers said all gauges work but I haven't verified that. If I can get the one that's there working again I'd just as soon so that. Any ideas? Quote Selected
1988 Turbo Coupe ammeter not working. Reply #1 – April 08, 2017, 01:06:47 PM That's as good as it gets by design. You can get it to deflect more if you force the entire load through the shunt wire by removing one of the eyelets from the starter solenoid that the shunt attaches to. Kinda weird both ends are terminated in the same place. Anyway.....I really don't recommend doing this as it potentially creates a fire hazard but is an easy way to test functionality of the gage.John Quote Selected
1988 Turbo Coupe ammeter not working. Reply #2 – April 08, 2017, 04:00:14 PM If you put load on the battery without the engine running, does it move?Key on, headlights, rear window defroster, operate the windows, power seat etc. Quote Selected
1988 Turbo Coupe ammeter not working. Reply #3 – April 09, 2017, 03:53:48 PM Quote from: softtouch;460230If you put load on the battery without the engine running, does it move?Key on, headlights, rear window defroster, operate the windows, power seat etc. No, it doesn't move at all. It hasn't since I've owned it. Quote Selected
1988 Turbo Coupe ammeter not working. Reply #4 – April 09, 2017, 04:03:14 PM Correction to last response. I went out to verify the gauge not moving and I saw the slightest of movement downwards when I turned on the lights and rear defogger. I saw the slightest of movement upwards when I started the car. If this is normal movement man, this gauge is weak. Quote Selected
1988 Turbo Coupe ammeter not working. Reply #5 – April 09, 2017, 04:34:37 PM Like I said both ends of the guage terminate at the same location. You get that slight blip then things balance and it doesn't move.John Quote Selected
1988 Turbo Coupe ammeter not working. Reply #6 – April 09, 2017, 04:56:20 PM The ammeter is a shunt type gauge, meaning it only requires a small amount of voltage/current change for it to respond... Problem is the "C" magnet around the coil that deflects meter becomes weak with age, so is totally numb... Several years ago I recharged the magnet in one, worked as expected for approx 10 days... Chances one from another cluster actually operates are slim and none... Quote Selected
1988 Turbo Coupe ammeter not working. Reply #7 – April 11, 2017, 07:27:46 PM My 88 xr7 gauge doesn't move at all, key on, car running or without a battery.One day I'll do jcassitys volt meter mod if I ever get around to it. Quote Selected
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