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You can check it off the battery with the car running

ok. So I think I did this correct with the settings on the reader. It settled between 7 and 8 volts as the engine was running. The battery is fully charged.

Assuming I did the reading correctly, what else can i check for the neg (-) reading on the Ammeter?

Thoughts appreciated!

Batteries are actually a bit sensitive to voltage. The charging voltage should not be set over 7¼ volts.

Thanks HPH
So what does that mean? I need a new battery? Volts Amps and Ohms are for sure not my thing!

Thanks

It appears that your generator is working if you get 7+ volts at the battery, assuming a fairly accurate volt meter. Perhaps your ammeter is defective, or polarity is incorrect.

Thanks. Is there a corrective action to take to correct polarity?

Just swap the wire positions on the Amp meter.

And then swap them back? Or ok to leave them that way?

Swap and leave them. If the amp meter reads backwards, it because the wires are hooked up backwards.

For example on my car, it's now 12v negative ground, so I had to swap the wires so it would read correctly.

Thanks guys!! That did the trick. Settles nicely on 0 now.

Another item I am looking at now is the temperature. The gauge works. Is spot on the temp of the engine. When she warms up and running, it settles at 180 degrees. The problem I run into is when it is warm, and then I sit in place and idle for a bit, the temperature jumps. Probably to 190 or 200. it doesn't peg at the 212. It would probably peg to 212, if i just left it sitting idle. When I get going again, it settles to 180......eventually.

Is this "normal"? or is this a symptom of something else? I replaced the water pump, fan is in good working order. I do have that pesky leak, that i have not pin pointed yet, but it is a drip and nothing major. I am certain the level is full each time i take her out so it is not a lack of coolant.

Thoughts appreciated.
Ben