connection of condensers on the back of the C2 dash

[William G.]

Hello,

I have the dash out of my C2 to replace the ammeter gauge and a faulty tachometer. There are two condensers, which on mine were disconnected. Which pole of the ammeter gauge does the condenser attach to? Also, there was one above the temperature gauge. It has what appears to be an original connector where by the wire either to , or from, the gauge goes through a slot and then a small nail is pressed in to pierce the wire, connecting the condenser. Seems a bit strange, as most of the others I have seen are a bayonet style.

Anyway, how do I hook up the new replacement condensers?

Ratracer

[Joe R.]

Re: connection of condensers on the back of the C2 dash

There are three capacitors on the back of C-2 Vettes. One to the ignition switch, the one with the nail that goes to the brown wire and the ammeter spade. Slide it in the connector closet to the edge of the cluster.

JR

[William G.]

Re: connection of condensers on the back of the C2 dash

when I took the cluster out, I did not see any condenser on the ignition switch, Joe. Which post on the switch should it go to, as I can add it on? Also, you said to put the ammeter condenser on the post closest to the edge of the housing. Is this the positive, or negative post connection? Given the replacement ammeter has a copper and a zinc plated post on the back of it, I am assuming the copper is the positive and that is closest to the outside of the housing.

[James W.]

Re: connection of condensers on the back of the C2 dash

Here are a few pictures of a late production 1965 Corvette dash cluster.

[William G.]

Re: connection of condensers on the back of the C2 dash

James,

The pictures clarify a lot for me. However, I have two questions. The color of the wires in the ammeter socket are not real clear. Does the condenser go into the red wire/ battery side, or the other side. Based on the old one from my dash, it should be the battery side.

The second question is about the one on the ignition switch. I bought a replacement from Zip and it has a a black socket on it. However, I counted the blades on my ignition switch and it has five, as does the ignition switch socket. My car is a 67 and looking at the wiring diagram, I don't see a condenser shown. Just the ammeter and the one up on top that pins to the cluster housing ground wire.

[Bill M.]

Re: connection of condensers on the back of the C2 dash

James great pictures I was having same problem with the ammeter capacitor

[Joe R.]

Re: connection of condensers on the back of the C2 dash

Here you go. All three in a row. The one I referred to as the ignition switch cap goes to a wire in the harness but is attached near the ignition switch.

IMG_0365[1].jpg

JR