[bigyagi]

hey todwic, you mean you dont have an auto-ranging meter?
i usually put mine on 20k, for most things, then downsize when i dont understand the readings, which is always!! lol. you can use an old 5k variable potentiometer, out of any old junk radio you have laying around. put 2 leads on it, and slide the adjuster to set the resistence to whatever the manual says, then connect it all up, and see if the gauge reads normal. on my early car, the range is something like 6 ohms, up to 73 ohms. it will give you certain resistence numbers to check, like 33 ohms=1/2 tank reading on gauge.
if someone can come up with a gauge, or a voltage test, that will point out when your next electrical/mechanical disaster is about to happen, i suggest we all club up, and buy that man a years worth of his fav brew!
bob.