Disconnecting, alt gauge, charging problems?

Shaun41178(2) · Post by **Shaun41178(2)** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 7:07 pm

I am doign some aftermarket gauges in the rally gauge position and this will require me to remove the factory gauges. If I unplug the alternator gauge, will this cause charging problems? I know with some cars, the gauge is tied into the charging system because of the warning lamp and what not. I was wondering if it was like this on the Fiero.

Basically wondering if it will cause the battery to drain, or the system to work incorrectly. Thanks

S8n · Post by **S8n** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 7:55 pm

I don't have experience with the Fiero specifically, but with other GMs, as long as the charge light diode is still intact, you'll be ok. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong here.

The Dark Side of Will · Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:06 pm

It's late, I'm tired and I don't feel like looking it up in the manual...

But I think the field winding is supplied through the warning light. IOW, if you remove the warning light, you won't have any field voltage and won't have any alternator function.

Jinxmutt · Post by **Jinxmutt** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:34 pm

I found a fix to this. I don't know how 'crude' it is, but it works. Use it or not, up to you. Its been working great here for a month or so.

Put a resistor (470 Ohm 1/4 watt) into the stock AUX guage pins 1&2. I left the pigtail in place, and used 1&2 on the thin black connect up at the pod, NOT at the connector below the radio area.

Try it if you wish, it works. Don't know what affect it has keeping it in there all the time, but whatev, Function satisfies.

Kohburn · Post by **Kohburn** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:06 am

Shaun41178(2) wrote:I am doign some aftermarket gauges in the rally gauge position and this will require me to remove the factory gauges. If I unplug the alternator gauge, will this cause charging problems? I know with some cars, the gauge is tied into the charging system because of the warning lamp and what not. I was wondering if it was like this on the Fiero.

Basically wondering if it will cause the battery to drain, or the system to work incorrectly. Thanks

there is also a volt light in the main instrument cluster if i remember right you can just stick a bulb in that location and remove the rally gauges.

Shaun41178(2) · Post by **Shaun41178(2)** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:33 pm

even on 88's?

Kohburn · Post by **Kohburn** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:37 pm

Shaun41178(2) wrote:even on 88's?

the 88 4cyls don't have ralley gauges right? but the harness has the plug to add rally gauges... so it should work without the rally gauges as long as there is a "volt" light provision in the main cluster for you to put a bulb into.

Jinxmutt · Post by **Jinxmutt** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:01 pm

Kohburn wrote:
there is also a volt light in the main instrument cluster if i remember right you can just stick a bulb in that location and remove the rally gauges.

Didn't think of that, good idea.

p8ntman442 · Post by **p8ntman442** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:56 pm

FWIW I got an 86 se v6 with rally gauges, And they are unplugged and the chargng system works fine. I got a set of mechanical gauges in their place.

Golden86 · Post by **Golden86** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:02 pm

I replaced my rally gauges with aftermarket ones, and my charging system wouldent work with out the bulb. I just solderd a bulb in there and threw it behind the dash in the vent. If my vent ever lights up, I will know my alternator died.

BTW I had an 86 V6

Jinxmutt · Post by **Jinxmutt** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 12:39 am

I'm wondering how people are mounting the Autometer guages in the factory Aux pod using a flush plate?

When we did the guage install, we had to use a sort of 'spacer' as the guages were too deep to fit in the pod. Just wondering how people 'massaged' things to get them to fit.

For my 84, I'm considering just putting my guages where the center air ducts are.

Golden86 · Post by **Golden86** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 1:01 am

Jinxmutt wrote:I'm wondering how people are mounting the Autometer guages in the factory Aux pod using a flush plate?

When we did the guage install, we had to use a sort of 'spacer' as the guages were too deep to fit in the pod. Just wondering how people 'massaged' things to get them to fit.

For my 84, I'm considering just putting my guages where the center air ducts are.

All I did was I took a dremel to the inside plastic, and kept digging untill they fit. There has to be atleast 1/2 inch of meterial to work with before you come out the other side. There really isn't any exact science to it.

Kohburn · Post by **Kohburn** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:03 am

Jinxmutt wrote:I'm wondering how people are mounting the Autometer guages in the factory Aux pod using a flush plate?

When we did the guage install, we had to use a sort of 'spacer' as the guages were too deep to fit in the pod. Just wondering how people 'massaged' things to get them to fit.

For my 84, I'm considering just putting my guages where the center air ducts are.

hmm didn't have any problem with my revo gauges - fit just fine

Golden86 · Post by **Golden86** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 1:03 pm

Kohburn wrote:
hmm didn't have any problem with my revo gauges - fit just fine

The revo gauges probably didn't have thumb screws like the Autometers do, they add atleast 1/2" of depth to them. Kinda stupid on Autometers part, I would think you would want to make tham as shallow as possible.

Shaun41178(2) · Post by **Shaun41178(2)** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:06 pm

which is why you cut off the thumb screws.

Golden86 · Post by **Golden86** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:18 pm

Shaun41178(2) wrote:which is why you cut off the thumb screws.

You could do that too, but if you have a boost gauge, you need the extra room to clear the 90 degree fitting for the vac hose. Yes it would probably work if you are running anything, but a boost gauge

MNFatz · Post by **MNFatz** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:39 pm

The only gauge cups I've found that work without cutting the autometer mounting posts are the autometer gauge cups. Even then the posts bottom out againts the back of the cup and the gauge sticks out about 1/4 inch from the front lip of the cup but the mounting band covers the gap.

$12.95 and you can mount it on the side of your dash. Slide a piece of wire loom over the wiring and the pressure line and it'll look good.

Series8217 · Post by **Series8217** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:30 am

Golden86 wrote:
Shaun41178(2) wrote:which is why you cut off the thumb screws.
You could do that too, but if you have a boost gauge, you need the extra room to clear the 90 degree fitting for the vac hose. Yes it would probably work if you are running anything, but a boost gauge

Or you could use an electronic boost gauge!

Golden86 · Post by **Golden86** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:44 am

yeah, what he said...

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Disconnecting, alt gauge, charging problems?

Disconnecting, alt gauge, charging problems?

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