Mad Max has spent the entire winter snowed in.

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showphoto.php?photo=20054&cat=500

 

Last started in December, Max ran fine.

I cranked Max over last week and I found the volt meter is showing no volts?

 

Max still runs fine but the volt meter does not move at all?

 

I didn't have time to check anything else.

 

Suggestions?

 

Max is pinned in by 27" of snow and solid ice underneath.

Fear not, Max will break out in a week or two...

Suggestions?

 

Yes. Never let Mad Max spend the entire winter snowed in. Ever.

 

hth

If everything else is working electrically then the meter would seem to be the problem. You can verify that by measuring the voltage to the meter using another meter or a test light probe.

I visited Max this weekend to get to the bottom of the no volt issue.

Suspecting I might run into "resistance",

I came armed with jumper cables, battery charger, battery tester, battery terminal cleaner and a cheap Harbor Freight Alt. tester.

 

After some work and swearing, Max came to life and ran fine, but still no volts on the meter.

Apparently the alt is working just fine (according to HF).

Max seems happy and enjoyed some much needed excersize.

 

Is there anything easily done to make a volt meter work again?

Where do I begin...

Had the same problem on my '83 Hatch. The back of the gauge cluster where the voltmeter attaches to the circuit board was crusty. Cleaning under the nuts/washers fixed the problem.

 

Knowing how max is "exposed".... did you use the original gauge cluster? I would say it's just been exposed to the elements too long. Some dielectric grease would help matters I'm sure.

 

GD

Max and Summer are different individuals.

 

Max spends the winters outside braving the elements under the cover of snow.

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showphoto.php?photo=7437&cat=500&perpage=12&sort=3&ppuser=584

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showphoto.php?photo=20054&cat=500&perpage=12&sort=3&ppuser=584

 

Summer spends most of the time in a garage under a nice warm dust cover.

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showphoto.php?photo=13825&cat=500&perpage=12&sort=3&ppuser=584

 

I'm sure Mad Max's problem is simple.

I'll have to check the back of the inst. cluster for crusties?

 

Thanks,

Glenn

I'm sure Mad Max's problem is simple.

I'll have to check the back of the inst. cluster for crusties?

 

Yep - both the voltage, and fuel gauges on my hatch were inoperative/extremely sporatic after sitting for a couple years in a driveway. The rear pop-out windows were cracked due to broken latches and that allowed moisture to get inside. Only takes a bit of condensation on the connections - a cold spell will shrink the nut/bolt assembly away from the circuit board and allow corrosion to form. There was no grease or any protective substance used on them from the factory. I found that a good cleaning and a bit of dielectric grease cleared my problem right up. I spent a while cleaning grounds, and then did a systematic voltage drop trace of the entire voltmeter circuit only to find the biggest drop was across the cluster itself. I knew it was in the voltmeter circuit because the alternator was putting out consistent 14.5 volts.

 

GD