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68 Amp Guage question

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  • Richard D.
    Expired
    • December 1, 2002
    • 328
    #1

    68 Amp Guage question

    Looking to fix and/or replace my non funtioning amp guage in my 68.

    Ques. - On my guage, there's the 2 lead plug that connects to the guage AND into the top plug connection, there's a slip in lead that connects to what looks like a CONDENSER that screws to the back of the guage mounting plate. I assume this grounds it out.

    What is that thing? I don't think it comes with a guage if I go ahead and order one, and I would like to get a new one if indeed I have to replace it with either a rebuilt one or repro.

    Can anyone send me the part number for this "Condenser" (or whatever the proper name is for this), and a source for this part?

    I have a digital photo of the back of my guage package should anyone have an interest in seeing this to help me identify it.

    I can email it to you.

    Thanks in advance for any help.

    Regards,

    Rich
    Tags: None
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    • Joe L.
      Beyond Control Poster
      • February 1, 1988
      • 43193
      #2
      Re: 68 Amp Guage question

      Rich-----

      The part of which you speak is a radio interference condensor. It was GM #3934217 and it's long-since discontinued. If you need one, you can obtain a functional replacement by noting the rating on the side of the condensor and purchasing a similarly rated piece at an electronics store. No one will ever be able to see it to determine its originality or correctness.
      In Appreciation of John Hinckley
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        • Michael W.
          Expired
          • April 1, 1997
          • 4290
          #3
          Re: 68 Amp Guage question

          Are you sure that your gauge is really broken? Most of them stop working on C2/C3s simply because of corrosion in the wiring harness usually at the firewall connector.
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            • Richard D.
              Expired
              • December 1, 2002
              • 328
              #4
              Re: 68 Amp Guage question

              As usual, thanks Joe for the information.

              Mike, actually I'm not sure if the guage is bad or not. I intend to pull it out this weekend and go get it tested, unless I can find out how to test it myself.

              Joe, one last question, would the guage function properly (give the correct readings) with the condenser either missing or bad?

              Thanks again guys for your help.

              Regards,

              Rich
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                • Jean C.
                  Expired
                  • June 30, 2003
                  • 688
                  #5
                  Amp Gauge Safety

                  I once read in some long forgotten auto magazine that amp gauges on older cars can be the cause of a fire. Anyone want to comment on that idea and provide some reasoning concerning the potential fire hazard?
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                    • Joe L.
                      Beyond Control Poster
                      • February 1, 1988
                      • 43193
                      #6
                      Re: 68 Amp Guage question

                      Rich----

                      The condensor has nothing to do with the operation of the amp gauge. It's there strictly for radio interference suppression. I think that all cars got this particular condensor whether they were radio-equipped, or not. However, if the condensor is absent it will cause no problems, at all, with the gauge. There might be some minor radio interference, but I really doubt that you'd notice the difference as long as the rest of the RF interference system is installed. If the rest of the system is not installed (shields, other condensors, etc.), then the absence of this condensor is not going to make any difference.
                      In Appreciation of John Hinckley
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                        • Jack H.
                          Extremely Frequent Poster
                          • April 1, 1990
                          • 9906
                          #7
                          Capacitor is there....

                          to defeat transients associated with turning headlights on/off or switching from low to hi beam settings. Ammeter will work fine without the capacitor but you might hear 'pop' noise in your radio (AM band in fringe reception conditions) without the capacitor....
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                            • John H.
                              Beyond Control Poster
                              • December 1, 1997
                              • 16513
                              #8
                              Re: Amp Gauge Safety

                              Charlie -

                              "Series" ammeters, where battery power is connected to one side of the ammeter as a power junction and distributed to the car from the other side, were last used in Corvettes in 1962. Beginning in 1963, the "ammeter" isn't an ammeter at all; it's a sensitive voltmeter (galvanometer) connected in parallel with two leads that sense voltage at the battery cable stud on the starter solenoid and at the power bus on the horn relay. The voltage difference between these two points is converted by the gauge and displayed on the gauge face as "amps"; the '63-up "ammeter" doesn't distribute any power - it just senses voltage at two points and displays the difference.
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                                • Jean C.
                                  Expired
                                  • June 30, 2003
                                  • 688
                                  #9
                                  Amp Gauge Safety - Thanks John *NM*

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                                    • Les Jacobs
                                      #10
                                      Re: 68 Amp Guage question

                                      Richard I don't have the schematic for your amp circuit, so I don't know how your capacitor is wired into the circuit..but capacitors can fail by shorting too. And if it does it "could" prevent the amp meter from funtioning. I don't know the likelihood of this occurring, but one way of testing is to disconnect only the capacitor and see if the gauge works. Les
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