First time poster here!
Ok, I will try to describe as well as possible. I just bought the '96 mustang v6 from a private seller. It had no stereo unit so I went to install one. I undid the neg terminal but it slid back into contact which I found out when i accidently shorted some stripped wires while wiring the stereo. This blew a 15 amp fuse that controlled the clock, dome light, spedo and stereo. I finished wiring the unit, replaced the fuse and all worked fine. However, the ammeter is showing very low now. Went to Advance auto and the test showed no current coming from alternator so I replaced it on the spot and had the batt charged while installing. The car seems to be running better with a new alt but the ammeter is still showing pretty low, hovering around the N on NORMAL. Is this likely caused by a bad cell in the battery or perhaps another issue? To isolate the stereo causing drain i pulled the 15A fuse that powers it with no result on the ammeter so I doubt it's that. Any help would be fantastic and I'm sure I'm gonna like this forum. Sorry for the long post but I wanted to be detailed.

 

I think your talking about the voltmeter (tests volts) in the instrument cluster. Its not an ammeter (tests amps).

Take a volt/multi-meter and test the battery while the car is running. It should be around 14-16 volts. If not then the alternator isn't working right or the cables are loose/corroded. Good luck...

 

Volt meter...yea i knew that lol. Well here's an update, replace alternator...twice. Charged and tested battery, tested good. Both times it shows no voltage coming from the alternator. The first alternator removed was tested in store and it tested just fine. So now it must be something to do with my wiring. The "pigtail" that goes from alt to batt and fuse box is not sold in the store but has been suggested as most likely culprit so far. Any other ideas? I really need some help with this badly. Thank you for reading.

 

Just discovered....there is some wire coming out of the volt regulator that has been added by the previous owner. The wire leads to fuse #18 under the steering column. This is labeled as inst. cluster, PATS, constant control relay module ign. system. The wire fell out of fuse #18 when i was checking others....the charging issue did arise after checking fuses as far as I remember. Any ideas with this info?

 

well....solved. That blue wire coming from the voltage regulator harness to the cabin fuse box was the solution. I still have no idea how the he** it works, but the volt meter is back to normal...right smack in the middle. I may still have it tested once i can but...now that its solved can any one explain how it works??