im making a custom cluster with autometer gauges. someone told me if i unplug the facotry plugs on the instrument cluster (2 plugs) that my car wouldnt start. well my car starts with it unplugged. now i hear my alternator wont charge. i havent hooked up a gauge yet. i would like to know if this is true before i cut out all my facotry wiring.

88 iroc BTW
thanks!
TJ

 

It should still charge. Start the car up and put a volt meter on the batt., it should read around 14V, with the car off it should read around 12V.

 

thanks, but ive been working my but off on it and im not going back outside right now. ive researched some more and it appears for this to be true. the "exite" wire that tells the voltage regualtor to charge runs threw the gauge. i have omitted this portion when i removed the TPI. i know have a new(non factory) excite wire for the alternator when the ignition is on.

any input would be helpful. im gonna get un-lazy tomorrow and check it with a mulitmeter.

thanks again.

 

Yes you are right. Just read in the Chiltons about the old Excitation wire. It says, "when the ignition key is turned ON, current flows from the battery, through the charging system indicator light on the instrument panel, to the voltage regulator, and to the alternator." So somehow you should be able to bypass the indicator light, and it should be good. I'm not exactly sure how to do that though. Maybe someone else will help us. Sorry I'm not much help.

 

I don't know much about auto electronics, but here's a potential idea on what it could be. If somehow, the device on your guages measures amps, and you disconnect it, everything connected on that circuit after that ammeter also is disconnected. That is to say, if that meter/guage/light is the first device on a circuit, and you disconnect said meter/guage/light, nothing after that will work because ammeters have to be connected in series with the load (device drawing power).

This might not be it, and I could be in left field. Just a thought.

I'm not good at explaining things, so if this appears to be it and I need to clarify, let me know.

 

you just need to put a resistor in place of the old charge indicator bulb, above 35 ohm and below 350 ohm, i think i would use a 100 ohm resistor