Hi folks,

I have recently rebuilt and reinstalled the 350 chev into HJ GTS and have noticed some odd electrical readings.

When firing car up with handbrake on, the brake warning light on dash pulses brighter at idle, and voltmeter comes up to about half. Selecting reverse, voltmeter drops immediately to zero, but no ammeter warning light. Driving off (reasonable revs, nothing outrageous) the voltmeter climbs back to about 3/4. Hitting the brakes the voltmeter drops again to about 1/2. No charge warning light, however.

Haven't noticed this behaviour before, but it has been off the road for a few months for the rebuild so may not have noticed it in the past.

Taillight wiring a bit didgy, as there are trailer connector wires spliced in and some of the connectors were a bit short. A few extensions and plenty of tape for last WoF (roadworthy check), not sure if problem arrived then or earlier or later.

The combination of zero indicated volts with no charge light has me a bit stumped ;)

Battery has been in boot for a couple of years. Earth strap from engine to chassis, and from battery to both chassis and body. Remote starter solenoid, so power for car systems comes from solenoid on chassi rail rather than from starter terminal. Alternator has 4 gauge wire back to solenoid for power / recharge efforts, with another 4 guage going up to a relay box up front for lights / fans / horn circuits.

Would have put it down to fans, etc, except this occurs on first startup so the auto fans haven't kicked in.

Thinking there may be a short in the boot wiring, may get in there and replace chunks of it this week and see whether it improves..

It turns out, I lied. In reverse, voltmeter pegs at zero AND charge light comes on. In park with handbrake on, voltage at just under half, with handbrake light pulsing.

Now radio is cutting out going over bumps (but that is after market wired in). I think is going to be a big "under dash" session this weekend.

Going to build new centre console to house double DIN radio / nav system and speakers (along with various cutouts and switches, couple of cup holders, phone slot and sunglasses clips, extinguisher mount and anything else I can think of). Hopefully having it all contained in centre console will reduce load throughout rest of wiring (means next door cards don't need speaker cutouts either).