Amp gauge problem

Bjs is right, been there done that and done this..

http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/amp-gauges.shtml

when you disconnect the amp gauge it stays where it is and the needle will stay in the middle.. so the original look also stays. no worries there mate.

mine used to get soo hot when i would turn on my stereo and the positive lead would heat up and melt the plastic to the poitnt that it was no longer possible to make a tight connection. therefore making sparks.. shorting out my regulator, causing the car to not start, and at one point in time making my dash melt so bad that the car filed up with smoke and i had to pull over to let the smoke out and disconnect the battery.

could you imagine going in for a drink leaving your car running and by tie you come bck out its up in flames.. me either.. cuz that would suck.

And to point out your other problem with the gauge going up and down all the time.. mother mopar only had one bad idea.. amp gauges.. with a 170 non ac radio delete car.. the amp will read negative when you turn on the headlights because the way an amp gauge works is it shows you power flow.. or draw. and in most cases it will alwasy run in the negative, cause thats the way the cookie crumbles.

hope that clears some things up for ya, and its more then likely your alternator that is your issue anyway. not puttin gout enough charge
Cerwin