My Ammeter is Hot

Is it normal for my ammeter on my 31 coupe to become hot or warm to the touch when it’s charging at 8 amps?

Answer:
Experiencing your ammeter becoming hot or warm under these conditions is not typical. This issue is often caused by loose nuts on the back of the ammeter, resulting in increased resistance and heat generation at the connection points. To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

  1. Remove the instrument panel.
  2. Tighten the two nuts on the back of the ammeter.
  3. Ensure that the nuts on the firewall terminal box studs are also tightened.
  4. Remove the two brass wing nuts on the terminal box cover, remove the cover, and tighten the nuts on the two stud bolts.
  5. Examine the two wires connecting the terminal box studs to the ammeter (yellow and yellow/black wires) to ensure they haven’t overheated due to loose connections.

By following these steps, you should be able to address the issue. If the problem persists, it may be necessary to replace the ammeter. – Les Andrews, 1998 Technical Director

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