thanks alot 67dart273. cant wait to get home from work and get started. and no i dont have a diagram .ive been looking all over the web but cant find a legit one
I assume from your username that it's a 66 Valient?
HERE:
is our own shop manual download thread:
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=132309&highlight=manual,+download
and on that thread you can download a 66 shop manual:
http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/servicemanuals/1966_Plymouth_Service_Manual.zip
HERE are wiring diagrams:
http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=31
These two right here:
http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1966/66ValiantA.jpg
http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1966/66ValiantB.jpg
Sounds like you have a problem in the main feed/ ammeter circuit
FIRST inspect harnesses for burned/ melt/ damage
NEXT pull apart bulkhead connector and look for damage
Inspect the fuse link, from the starter relay to the bulkhead for damage.
Get yourself a meter and test lamp if you don't have one
It is also possible that the connections at the ammeter are bad, loose, corroded, broken inside the molded end terminals, or even something wrong in the ammeter itself. In the "MAD" diagram, see the "welded splice"? These do fail, and since your headlights don't work the suspects seem to be:
The main fuse link
The bulkhead connector
The ammeter and connections
The welded splice (taped up in harness under the dash) Check it last
READ this excellent article. I'm not suggesting you "do" the bypass just yet, but this article gives a nice overview of how these old cars "work" in this area:
http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/amp-gauges.shtml
from this website:
http://www.madelectrical.com/electrical-tech.shtml
From that article, here is a simplified wiring diagram of the main battery feed, charging, and ammeter circuit
Here are some screenshots out of the 66 shop manual I posted above. They do NOT use the correct page numbers, you have to "diddle" with them. These are around page 300 or so, the Valiant engine bay and "under dash" wiring: