High amperage draw

Hello, I was wondering if anyone has experienced the same problem I'm having. I have a '68 corvette conv. with no air ,power windows or any other power accessory gadgets ,real basic .The problem is the amp gauge shows -40 or -30 when I'm driving the car ,yet I never have low batery problems ,the headlights work fine ,etc ,etc with the exception of the wipers they don't respond to the switch and opprerate unpredictably,but the battery seems to be charged and starts the car well, I just feel there must be a short somewhere to cause this high discharge on the gauge.

If your wipers are behaving erratically, I'd start by unplugging the wiper motor and checking the gauge.

If there are no other problems, I would suspect the gauge itself. You want to use an inductive ampmeter to measure the actual draw. Check it at the alternator wire, and at the battery. Any shop has the inductive meter. AutoZone can also do the test for free. If you get the right guy who understands draw testing.

kstyer said: AutoZone can also do the test for free. If you get the right guy who understands draw testing.

i.e. if you go to the cuyahoga falls AutoZone on sunday and ask for a guy named Ken.

Thanks all ,I really enjoy seeing pics of members cars,and of course the useful info.I've been too involved with other projects to take the time to trouble shoot this problem and of course driving the vette as much as possible before it gets too cold and I have to put it in storage for winter.If anyone is in northern MN. Sept 11 there is a show in Walker MN ( The No Class Car Show ) Will have the vette there ,thanks and good luck to all.

Whiteknight