Electical problem

[Richard Peterson]

Thought I'd share this with you guys.  My ammeter was acting crazy after a long trip and here's what it turned out to be.  The large black wire from the alternator which goes into the 1st firewall connector (from the left) on my 77 Dodge 440 was found to have a poor connection.  Basically this was the result of overheating and corrosion over the years.  This wire feeds the ammeter and then on to the battery.  There was a voltage drop across this connection which affected the charging of the battery.  I spliced a new wire around the connector and everything is back to normal.  Doesn't hurt to look at all those connectors while you are at it.

[Rodney]

Hi Richard,
That is a weak spot for Mopars of all makes and models. I had a 70 GTX with the same problem and did the same fix.  A person needs to carefully pull the connector apart and clean, make sure the spade connectors are tight and lube them up real well with dialectric luberication. Many electrical woes I have found to be in that connector. There is a lot of AMPS going through that small connector I would guess even more being a motor home as when running down the road the Alt is charging the battery in the home as well.
Glad you got her fixed.
Rodney

[Andy Illes]

10-4 on that one.  On my '76, that alternator wire enters through the main connector behind the battery, on the R end of the firewall.  I posted elsewhere that the other ammeter wire, the large, short red one with the fusible link between that connector and battery +... it's so short that battery movement can unplug it.

The result is an alternator that doesn't seem to charge, a dead battery, and no start.  When I first got mine, I wound up wasting money on a new alternator and battery on account of that, before I noticed the unplugged lead.  Wound up cleaning all those connections (amazing ANY of 'em could pass ANY current!!!!) and used that silicone "putty" stuff phone guys use.  It sortta flows around connections for an air?water tight connection.