wires to volt meter • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **Dale1035** » 20 Jul 2008 14:54

I am having a wiring problem where LARGE (10 gauge?) RED and BLACK wires that go to the volt gage have gotten too hot and melted the insulation through out the wiring harness.

Since I have added an after market volt gauge.
Could I eliminate these wires by cutting them off near the bulkhead or do they serve another purpose that would require replacing them?

Other wires next to these 2 wires did have thier insulation get warm enough for the wires to stick together. I was able to get them seperated without visually damaging them. Any sugestions or help is greatly appreciated.

by **dave-r** » 20 Jul 2008 16:35

Challengers didn't have a volt gauge.

If you are talking about the ammeter in the dash then if you cut those you will have no power to the rest of the car.

Read this.
http://www.madelectrical.com/electrical ... uges.shtml

by **Eddie** » 20 Jul 2008 17:18

Thanks Dave, good read, I also ordered the AutoMeter free shop catalog. :lol:

by **Dale1035** » 20 Jul 2008 19:43

Thanks Dave
You are a life saver. My 73 Chalenger has been suffering from this problem probably for quiet some time. A couple of months ago I finally qot the car to a point where it could be driven and the first problem I had was the altinator went out. Since none of the gauges were working I installed a volt gage and found that it would only read to 10 volts. A check of the new altinator showed out put of 14v volts. I started looking for the problem and found that I had a "terminal" illness. Both the heavy REd and Black wires were badly burnt at the bulk head. Closer inspection of the harness showed that the Red and Black wires going to the amp gauge had gotten so hat that there was not much insulation left on them. I have isolated both wires in the harness and no other wires appear to be damaged. With the artical you attached I think I can now repair the wiring and bypass the gauge.
Eddie, You were correct, the people that wrote that artical must have taken pictures of my car.

by **Eddie** » 20 Jul 2008 20:13

by **Jon** » 21 Jul 2008 4:35

After reading the article and advice from the board, I decided to run the black wire from the alternator directly to the starter relay. The red wire remains and serves the circuits in the rest of the car.(under dash) The amp gauge does not function as before but will still move with load and or RPM's so you can tell if there is a power change in the system.

Also installed the two fusible links on both wires at the relay to protect the wiring from both the alternator and the battery.

by **Dale1035** » 22 Jul 2008 23:03

Thanks again for all of the great advice. I have bypassed the Amp gauge and repalced the bulkhead. This winter I will have more time and will rewire the system the way the artical suggested. I am adding a couple of pictures to show just how bad the bulkhead and the wires from the Amp gauge were. I have also shared the artical with some Mopar friends at work.
Glad to be on the road again.

by **Eddie** » 23 Jul 2008 11:43

Glad to hear it Dale! Looks like it got plenty hot in there! Thankfully NO fires eh!! :lol:

Re-wired per the article it should take a huge load off the main bulkhead! :thumbsup:

by **Dale1035** » 24 Jul 2008 1:21

I think the artical is the only way to go. Wouldn't want anything to damage a Challenger.