Pacer - Constant Voltage Regulator

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   Does anyone know where I can purchase a new CVR constant voltage regulator for a 76 Pacer?  Galvin & Kennedy don't show one for a Pacer.

More info.... Shop manual says if ground is lost to CVR, fuel gauge will be damaged. My fuel gauge was working ok until I pulled out the dash cluster to fix a bad connection to my dashboard turn signal indicator bulb. I kept the speedometer cable attached and worked in a very tight space. I kept disconnecting and reconnecting the battery cable and turning on the ignition to test. Could that action have cost me the fuel gauge? Would ground to the CVR be lost in doing that?  

Also, some reading of past posts on this forum say CVRs do fail after about 30yrs. 

My little dash bulbs for temp and oil are out as well, but one thing at a time. (not the bulbs)
Jim 

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Jim76 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Feb/15/2021 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 56	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jim76 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Pacer - Constant Voltage Regulator Posted: Mar/15/2022 at 9:25am
	Does anyone know where I can purchase a new CVR constant voltage regulator for a 76 Pacer? Galvin & Kennedy don't show one for a Pacer. More info.... Shop manual says if ground is lost to CVR, fuel gauge will be damaged. My fuel gauge was working ok until I pulled out the dash cluster to fix a bad connection to my dashboard turn signal indicator bulb. I kept the speedometer cable attached and worked in a very tight space. I kept disconnecting and reconnecting the battery cable and turning on the ignition to test. Could that action have cost me the fuel gauge? Would ground to the CVR be lost in doing that? Also, some reading of past posts on this forum say CVRs do fail after about 30yrs. My little dash bulbs for temp and oil are out as well, but one thing at a time. (not the bulbs) Jim

mramc Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jul/12/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3223	Post Options Post Reply Quote mramc Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar/15/2022 at 12:48pm
	Does anyone know where I can purchase a new CVR constant voltage regulator for a 76 Pacer? Galvin & Kennedy don't show one for a Pacer. * Ok, I checked my AMC parts books and I've dealt with this before plus I had a 75 Pacer , back in the day. The parts books list two number under group 3.662-1 part number 320-3982 (pacer & 73/74 Javelin) 320-5695 if I've read my note correctly. BUT they are a part that AMC used almost for ever and pretty much as close to a universal part as you get. You have three choices . 1) get an NOS one that been rusting on the shelf for 30 or 40 year plus year. That may or may not work. 2) get a new one made in China ; those read low. Especially on the gas gauge. 3) Get a new US made solid state made one by RT engineering . https://www.rt-eng.com/ It seems Mopars used the same type of instrument clusters as AMC did and have the same type of Regulator - Instrument Cluster Voltage or ICVR . The RT engineering ones are a little more costly depending which one your price compare to . Maybe $20 different, but they work and the old and or made in china ones not so much. I bought an RT Engineering ICVR and put it in my 1974 Matador coupe and it works great. The Mopar guys swear by them. You pay your money , you make your choice . LRD More info.... Shop manual says if ground is lost to CVR, fuel gauge will be damaged. My fuel gauge was working ok until I pulled out the dash cluster to fix a bad connection to my dashboard turn signal indicator bulb. I kept the speedometer cable attached and worked in a very tight space. I kept disconnecting and reconnecting the battery cable and turning on the ignition to test. Could that action have cost me the fuel gauge? Would ground to the CVR be lost in doing that? * That whole another issue. You might have to have the fuel gauge rebuilt. It can be done. LRD Also, some reading of past posts on this forum say CVRs do fail after about 30yrs. * They also corrode after sitting on the shelf unused for 30 or 40 years.LRD My little dash bulbs for temp and oil are out as well, but one thing at a time. (not the bulbs) Jim Bulbs , yes while you in there just replace all the bulbs. You can use the modern bulbs BUT they run $10 a bulb. I'd just go with the regular old style bulbs myself, but I'm cost consonance. LRDaum
	LRDaum

Jim76 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Feb/15/2021 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 56	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jim76 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar/15/2022 at 3:34pm
	LRDaum Thanks for the great reply. I'm happy to go with RT Engineering, but called up the page you sent and not sure which to purchase? IVR3 or IVR4 Limiters. Not even sure if "limiters" is another name for the constant voltage regulator I need? I tried going through google too, but don't understand their store or sellers page at all. A bit more guidance to get me to the part I need PLEASE. Thanks again, Jim
	Jim Stulga

mramc Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jul/12/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3223	Post Options Post Reply Quote mramc Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2022 at 12:08am
	It is the IVR4 . They just list it as American Motors : https://www.rt-eng.com/index.php/IVR4_Limiter_List.html . So, that page. On the AMC you just plug it in. You might want to check with them first on the phone to be sure. And no they do not list Pacer but the 73-78 AMC parts book list it as being the same as 73/74 Javelin. The parts book list two number but per say there is no difference I know of. The originals are mechanical. The RT - Engineering ones are solid state electrics. There mopar guy here that goes some like rebel-machine some thing and he and an article in one of the mopar magazines put me on to this. LRDaum PS. There should be a section on the forum with a discussion on the instrument cluster voltage regulators. LRD
	LRDaum

Jim76 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Feb/15/2021 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 56	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jim76 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2022 at 9:39am
	Thanks again LRDaum. I'm going to order. Couldn't find a phone number to call RT, but ordering the part looks easy. Before I tear apart my dashboard, wanted to have a CVR and nos fuel gauge nearby. This job is beyond my comfort zone but no choice. Can't imagine finding anyone to work on a problem like this in a 70s car. Jim
	Jim Stulga

bigbad69 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jul/02/2007 Location: Ottawa, Ont. Status: Offline Points: 6685	Post Options Post Reply Quote bigbad69 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2022 at 11:29am
	The gauge was working, you took the dash out, put it back in, and the gauge no longer worked. I would be looking for missing/bad connections before throwing parts at it. I don't know Pacers, but if the gauge is the same as the earlier type (as mramc said - he's usually right about things like that), it is pretty robust. (as is the IVR) It's unlikely you broke them. BTW, the Constant Voltage Regulator (CVR) or Instrument Voltage Regulator (IVR) as they're commonly called, are actually current limiters. You will see any of these three terms used for the same item.
	69 Javelin SST BBO 390 T10

nickleone Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Oct/04/2008 Location: westminster co Status: Offline Points: 1446	Post Options Post Reply Quote nickleone Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar/16/2022 at 12:18pm
	Just a FYI http://www.ramblerlore.com/AMC/dashreg/index.html solid state limiter. Nick
	nick 401 71 Gremlin pro rally car sold 390 V8 SX/4 pro rally car sold 1962 Classic SW T5 4 wheel disc brakes

Jim76 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Feb/15/2021 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 56	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jim76 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/14/2022 at 2:41pm
	Jim here again. Posting this so not to mislead someone in the future looking for a Pacer CVR and looking for guidance. Gas gauge is working now and it was the Constant Voltage Regulator that went out BUT the IVR4 is NOT the correct one for my 76 Pacer. I ended up sending the dash assembly to a speedometer repair shop I'd used before. I included a NOS gas gauge and the IVR4 CVR. They didn't need the new gauge and said the CVR is really for some Chrysler and not my car. They found a correct replacement CVR and performed other tasks to speedometer and numbers touch-up.
	Jim Stulga