Electrical Problem? Need help dx

[brat1709]

Well, my brat was just find, till my friend hooked up a radio and speakers.

Problem: Gauges register normal when idleing, except for voltage gauge reading lower than normal. Turn head lights on, voltage gauge droped to 7 volts, gas gauge starts climbing a bit higher, temperture gauge goes to red, and oil gauge measuing a little bit higher. I've disconnected radio & amp at battery. ALternator charging at 14.5 volts. I'm wondering if the voltage regulator at the instrumental cluster is damaged? I don't know what he did? He did replace the dash speakers. Maybe a wire is shorting out? Need boards help. Never let friend touch my brat again

[ausubaru92]

What year is your brat?

I assume that the gauges ect. are still playing up after the radio is disconnected(are you sure everything is disconected, this includes the switched 12v+ that comes from the ignition switch [but this SHOULD blow a fuse if shorted])

Are there any loose wires that may be shorting on the metal frame.

 

Although if something is shorted, it should realy pull the charge voltage down

 

Best bit would be to get your friend to reverse everything he did and see what happens from there

 

Goodluck

[northguy]

Read the write up Samo did on the other thread about stereo hook up. The speakers on Brats have a common ground and if you didn't rewire them with the new install, you probably have a problem.

[brat1709]

Thanks ausubaru92 & Northguy for your replys. Radio was disconnected at the loom and amp at the battery. New radio has set up for floating ground, but was not utilized. New speaker wires were run to each speaker in the dash.Rear are run directly to amp. I'm wondering if a wire was pinched during the replacement of the dash speakers. I keep trying, but if not, it going to an electrician. I'm concerned about having my friend touch it again. Maybe nexttime it won't start.

Read the write up Samo did on the other thread about stereo hook up. The speakers on Brats have a common ground and if you didn't rewire them with the new install, you probably have a problem.

[ausubaru92]

I doubt the speakers have anything to do with the problems with the dash problem

 

Are all Fuses ok?

 

ive heard that a loose earth on the alternator can cause irratic gauge problems...

Reading your 1st post again it says it does with the lights on,... If I were you I would check the connection where the amp was connected to the battery, check this connection is tight, a loose connection will fail under high loads and resistance will increase across the connection, causing a voltage drop.

[brat1709]

Ok guys. Problem found. It appears it was a ground problem. My friend detached the fuse box, and did not see a ground wire that attached at the rear. He assembled all, great sound, but failed to reattache the ground. It must me a pretty big ground, since it did affect the gauges. Thanks to all that helped in this matter. So make sure you attach all grounds.

 

I doubt the speakers have anything to do with the problems with the dash problem

 

Are all Fuses ok?

 

ive heard that a loose earth on the alternator can cause irratic gauge problems...

Reading your 1st post again it says it does with the lights on,... If I were you I would check the connection where the amp was connected to the battery, check this connection is tight, a loose connection will fail under high loads and resistance will increase across the connection, causing a voltage drop.