I don't know if an 82 still runs a volt meter or a amp meter? If you have an amp meter it is a part of the charging circuit and if you have a loose connection or a bad amp meter it will not charge the battery and will not allow the vehicle to run since the power runs through it and then to all your circuitry. My 80 has a amp meter in the center box and it stays at zero at all times, if it goes either direction you have a problem. It is a common problem with amp meters and the main reason they went to the volt meter since you can just add it to the system passively to get a reading.
