I have a strange voltage issue. I have 3 Autometer gauges, one of which being a voltmeter. My car usually runs at, or just under, 14 volts all the time. Lately the voltage has been dropping. At first it was dropping down to 12 volts, but for the last few days its been dropping down between 10.5 and 11. The voltage drop remains constant, even while accelerating. Now for the strange part. The further down the voltmeter drops the higher the other 2 gauges will read. As the voltage climbs, the other 2 gauges will read closer to their normal readings. The alternator was replaced less than a year ago and the battery is less than 6 months old. Could it be a bad cable? Ground perhaps? If it makes a difference I noticed that the wipers are moving a little slower, the windows are a little slower, and the gauge cluster isnt as bright as it used to be...
Strange voltage problem
- Thread starter StangGuy94
- Start date
if you have a voltmeter do a test...
if i recall correctly, from shop class (I dont test batteries often ) hold the voltmeter on the terminals, get ur wife or a friend to start the car... it shouldnt fall below like 8 or 10 volts. do the test till the rpms drop. if it falls below that number, you got a bad battery.
im still willing to bet its ur alternator tho, for what its worth.
if i recall correctly, from shop class (I dont test batteries often ) hold the voltmeter on the terminals, get ur wife or a friend to start the car... it shouldnt fall below like 8 or 10 volts. do the test till the rpms drop. if it falls below that number, you got a bad battery.
im still willing to bet its ur alternator tho, for what its worth.
Yep. The bolt was slightly loose..so we took the little bolt out, cleaned up the area, and replaced the bolt with a new one...tightened it down and voila....full power and voltage steady and back to normal...I guess some people are right..sometimes its the dumbest things that cause so many problems....