hawkandersonjr

About 2 months ago my battery went dead because I let a car cam plugged into my aux plug located in the middle console and it sat for a week. I also noticed that night before I parked the car the inside dash lights were flicking also the foot well lights and the mirror lights. I notice the light flicking about a year ago but it stop and then return but I never had any problems. I also use a battery tender when it sit for a week. It sat up last week and today the battery was dead. Took the battery to Auto Zone where I original bought it about 2 and half years ago. I left it to be charged for about two hours and when I returned and they told me the battery no good. They said it wouldn’t hold a charge and they gave me a new one. I installed the battery and took it for a drive. The voltage meter stated the voltage was 14.4 when I left home. Droved it for about 10 miles went to the car wash and on my way back the voltage started dropping to 14.2 then 14.1 and when I slowed down to make a turn it went down to 13.7. When I got home and it was just sitting and idling it went down to 13.1. Could this an alternator problem? Driving at 55-60MPH it stated above 14 but when I slowed down the voltage would drop down to 13.1 thru 13.9. Also while driving at 55 MPH the voltage was jumping from 14.2 to 14.3.

truckplay

keep an eye on it. the alternator output is regulated by the computer. when it sees that more is needed, the alternator output is bumped up. 13.1 is a little low, but the computer may have been resetting after the installation of the new battery. the voltage should be @ 13.5 volts and just over 14 volts when the accessories are on. when the engine cools down, tug on the main belt and make sure that it is not loose, a weak tentioner can also cause voltage fluctuations.

good luck

hawkandersonjr

Thanks I have been putting off changing the belt I am the second owner and I don't known if its ever been changed. Its an 05. Also tried to hook my battery tender back up and its tights up. Kind of ran over it about three weeks ago.

Thanks

HK770

I would think the battery is just becoming fully charged. When the battery doesn't need charged a sense circuit cuts down charge rate of Alt. Other wise it would burn up battery At least that is my understanding.


luck



http://delcoremy.com/Documents/Alter...,-22,-23,.aspx

HBsurfer

Those numbers sound normal to me. I just installed a new alternator and my numbers go up and down just about the same as yours (except that 13.1, mine has not gone below 13.7).

cclive

If the lowest you ever see, which is at idle, is 13.1, then you are fine and nothing is wrong.

timd38

I have an under-dive balancer pully and the alternator would get down to hogh12 low 13 at idle and with the A\C on the light would come on. I installed a Billet Tec alternator and it fixed everything.

Maybe the previous owner installed an under-drive balancer. Just another thought.