Know if my 48 d24 is neg ground

[speedyshark]

How will I know if the car has been changed to neg ground? The old batt was an 8volt and dead. Bought new 6volt and when connected and turned on it the amp meter was in neg then went to middle while driving. Should I try swapping the cables and start to see if amp meter goes to pos side? Thanks for any help guys.

[Merle Coggins]

The amp meter should go to the negative side when you turn on the key, or draw any power without the engine running. Once the engine is running, and the generator is working, the meter should move to the positive side until the battery charge has stabilized. Then it will move closer to the "0" mark.

Merle

[speedyshark]

Thank you Merle. Looks like the batt is connected right then.

[greg g]

If your battery is brand new, it won;t need much charge so the generator is just idling. turn onthe lights and step onthe brakes. You shuld then see a bit of a jump to the pos side of the ammeter as the genn kicks in to replace the current that is beig used, after shutting them off, it should go back to just above 0.

[speedyshark]

So as long as the amp meter goes to pos side when I puts draw on batt, then the polarities are correct?

[Plymouthy Adams]

only if your engine is running and the gen/reg is operating and depending on load....RPM

[speedyshark]

I guess everything is right. Car runs everything, but radio works and the amp meter will drop to neg then bounce around a little then go to 0.

[speedyshark]

Wanted to ask if the car was hooked up wrong on the poles, then the car would not start correct? The coil would not get power and not fire? When I drive around the fuel gauge bounces from full to empty and the speedo bounces a little as well. Not sure if it had something to do with the batt.

[Plymouthy Adams]

it's chocked full of inner demons...find an exorcist

it is time that you invest in a manual as it has the schematic...explanation of how each system works and what it controls...and in the mean time awaiting its arrival, check the connections of the amp meter and ignition switch..wiper sdwitch etc etc as the power is often daisy chained about the components...lube a speedo head and chain etc etc...to get anywhere and get there quick and easy with a feeling you are doing it right pretty much means you should have a manual at your fingertips..

[speedyshark]

Ya, your right I am going to find one to order. I was just worried about the neg and pos thing, but think it is right the way it is or there would be no power to coil. Looks like po changed the ground to block so when that was done guess the car was switched to neg ground.

Where is a good place to order a Manual?

[Plymouthy Adams]

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=1946-1954+Plymouth+manual&_sacat=0&_from=R40

personally I do not recommend the CD..too much a hassle..can't have it in the car, under the car and at the shop table at the same time...yeah..convince me a laptop is that portable..I wrote my article on the use of them when they started incorporating them on the flightline..what a crock..what a safgety hazard...what a waste of time..more time spent trying to find the info than to do the job once data found...

[speedyshark]

So makes no difference if it is for the ply? I have a dodge d24.

Just so I know, am I right on the coil not getting power if neg and pos connected wrong?

[Plymouthy Adams]

my big mistake...talk about your ultimate duh moment...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=d24+dodge+manual&_sacat=0&_from=R40

coil could care less the polarity it only really affect which side of the contact points thas is eventually going to pit...your only real concern at the moment is the amp meter and the regulator...IF your amp guage registers on the C side of the ampmeter when revved..it is correct on polarity..this has been stated a number of times now...

Edited October 5, 2012 by Tim Adams

[speedyshark]

Thanks just ordered the book.

[Rusty O'Toole]

I don't think there is anything wrong with your car.

Speedo bouncing around, has nothing to do with the electrics. Your speedo cable needs greasing. Go under the car, take the cable off the trans, pull out inner cable. Inspect for rust or kinks. Wipe off old grease. Coat with new grease, do not grease the top 6" or 1 foot. You don't want the grease to work into the speedo. Put the cable back in, and connect back onto trans.

Gas gauge bouncing around, most likely a bad wire to the tank. Either shorting out or losing contact intermittently.

Ammeter will go neg when you turn the key and start, pos when the engine starts. It will go up and down when you rev the engine, turn on something electric. If the batt is down it will go high then slowly come down. Once you are driving along at a steady speed it should stabilize. When my batt was low I have seen take a high charge for half an hour before it started to come down.

[Don Coatney]

Go under the car' date=' take the cable off the trans, pull out inner cable. [/quote']

Are you sure about that? Every inner speedometer cable I have worked on must be removed from the top where it connects to the speedometer, not where it connects to the transmission. There is a clamp on the top of the cable that prevents it from being pulled out the bottom.