Amp Meter issues

[Mark Banxs]

While driving home in my 66 Barracuda 225 slant 6 from Mopars in the Park 2 Saturdays I started to get a spark under the dash every now and then while driving (Yikes!) I made it home and searched high and low for where the sparks were coming from but could not find anything lose or burnt. So, on Friday this week I drove it to work, and all was fine on the way in but on the way home it started to spark again. This time it was sparking bad, so I pulled over and determined that the aftermarket amp gauge was faulty and was sparking. So I thought I would disconnect all the connections and be on my way. But not so quick, the car would not start. So the Mc Gyver in me kicked in and I touched the amp gauge wires together and the car started. So why in the heck does that determine if the car runs? The gauge in the dash was said not to work. And now I know the aftermarket gauge melted and is no good. My question is, can I just tie those two wires together and be good to go? Or is there something I'm missing here? I have attached a pic of the wires I disconnected for visual effect.

Thanks for all your input.
Mark Banxs

 

[TrailBeast]

While driving home in my 66 Barracuda 225 slant 6 from Mopars in the Park 2 Saturdays I started to get a spark under the dash every now and then while driving (Yikes!) I made it home and searched high and low for where the sparks were coming from but could not find anything lose or burnt. So, on Friday this week I drove it to work, and all was fine on the way in but on the way home it started to spark again. This time it was sparking bad, so I pulled over and determined that the aftermarket amp gauge was faulty and was sparking. So I thought I would disconnect all the connections and be on my way. But not so quick, the car would not start. So the Mc Gyver in me kicked in and I touched the amp gauge wires together and the car started. So why in the heck does that determine if the car runs? The gauge in the dash was said not to work. And now I know the aftermarket gauge melted and is no good. My question is, can I just tie those two wires together and be good to go? Or is there something I'm missing here? I have attached a pic of the wires I disconnected for visual effect.

Thanks for all your input.
Mark Banxs

View attachment 1716260473

ALL power goes through those.
The amp meter passes power from one to the other while reading the amps.
It’s a common fault point.

Some of us connect those together as you did and put a volt gauge in instead.
A volt meter has to be connected to keyed power, unlike the amp gauge.

Do a search for “Amp meter bypass” and you will find tons of information on it.

 

[barracudadave67]

Those look like the stock amp wires. If so, you can connect them together, with a bolt, and nut. You can also cut them off and solder them together. What ever you do make sure you insulate them real good, as they are hot all the time your battery is connected. Disconnect the battery when working on them.

Dave

 

[67Dart273]

What you've experienced is IN PART (and only in part) of why there has been so much written about the ammeter circuit. There is more to it (many times) than just the ammeter. In general, the possible problems are:
1....Many times aggravated by the installation of a much larger alternator, and or addition of large load accessories

The usual suspects are the bulkhead connector terminals, the welded splice (rare) up under the dash, the ammeter wire terminal ends, and problems in the ammeter itself. What happens there is that there is really nothing for the nuts to actually tighten against, and in newer cars (my old 70RR) the cluster housing is PLASTIC. Head causes things to loosen, the looseness caused more heat, and pretty soon you have actual smoke and heat, not to mention sparks and worse.

I would NOT simply bolt those together and go on your way. Pull the bulkhead connector apart, at least and inspect the terminals. And read the MADD article on the subject:

Catalog

Many of us here agree that there is an easier way to do the bypass rather than in the article

AFTER you have inspected and fixed problems in the bulkhead connector, and inspected and bolted the ammeter wires, now take some nice big wire, like maybe no8 or no6 AND A BREAKER OR FUSE and wire from the alternator output stud direct to the battery, starter post, or starter relay "big stud."

 

[Dana67Dart]

Short answer is yes you can put those two connectors together.

An amp meter is a meter that is in series with the circuit not like a volt meter which is in parallel.

In DC circuits red and black can both be positive. The car body is the ground.

The red wire goes to the battery and the black to the alternator.

The black wire has the infamous "splice" that powers most of the car.

When it is not attached to the battery side you can't start the car.