Pegged amp meter?

[edandpeg]

Says alway charging?..Brought it to Sears..thought a new battery..they tested and said all was fine..don't trust..how can ya check out a amp gauge?..have meter..where to put?...swapped out bats..same thing.. Argg! Ed

[xj2fsj]

I can't really help you but I was curious, what do you mean " shows always charging"? the reason I ask is I am not sure if my gauge is working properly. When I start up it jumps from zero to about 16 amps. after that it drops down to 0-1 amps and doesn't move. On previous trucks the gauge usually reads the output of the alternator in amperical units, is this also true for 82 wags?

[ArtsiFrtsi]

Check the wires on the alt, specially the one bolted on...

[blt2krl]

definetly check your altenator. Should be putting out 14 to 13 volts. You can fry your battery by having a n alternator putting out to much charge.

[Rogue]

the "shunt" resistor may be fried, the gauge actually only take a sample reading, the shunt bears the main load, if the shunts burns out then the gauge will be taking full amperage instead of just a sample reading

[Hump]

If you're not planning on doing the ammeter bypass in your instrument cluster...which is highly recommended. I would invest in a good fire extinguisher...plenty on new wire, a soldering gun, electric tape, a spare vehicle, patience, and plenty of time, because it sounds like you're gonna have a melt down!

Mine's still in a state of disrepair from a similar incident. You'll know what happened when your engine quits and smoke rolls out from the dash.

[soccer dad]

I had asked a question Friday about my interrior lights staying on & thought I'd found the answer.

Maybe it's unrelated but when I got in my Jeep last night, the amp gauge pegged just like yours.

This morning I turned on headlights, interror lights, radio, AC, heater fan (yes, at the same time), & kept pushing in the cig lighter -- it even rained so I could turn on the wipers. I drained enough juice that way to keep the gauge at about 30+ amps while running. At red lights I stopped with the cig lighter because it would put me into negative amps at idle.

I took it to the best auto electrician in town.

Uncle.