Hi volt message
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 442
Likes: 24
Hi volt message
Top off and I'm on my way home looking to enjoy the weekend then i get a hi volt reading on the gauge.
i had about an hr drive so i called the mechanic and he said it could be a bad gauge or the alternator. It was reading with accessories on anywhere from 12.6 - 17.1. most of the time it was in the 13's. i put it in neutral when it got too high.
its probably the alternator but is there anyway to check it before just replacing. i have a fsm but its always in another language to me.
any suggestions would be great.
thx and enjoy ur weekend.
i had about an hr drive so i called the mechanic and he said it could be a bad gauge or the alternator. It was reading with accessories on anywhere from 12.6 - 17.1. most of the time it was in the 13's. i put it in neutral when it got too high.
its probably the alternator but is there anyway to check it before just replacing. i have a fsm but its always in another language to me.
any suggestions would be great.
thx and enjoy ur weekend.
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,792
Likes: 2,699
From: So. Cal.
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voltage
Top off and I'm on my way home looking to enjoy the weekend then i get a hi volt reading on the gauge.
i had about an hr drive so i called the mechanic and he said it could be a bad gauge or the alternator. It was reading with accessories on anywhere from 12.6 - 17.1. most of the time it was in the 13's. i put it in neutral when it got too high.
its probably the alternator but is there anyway to check it before just replacing. i have a fsm but its always in another language to me.
any suggestions would be great.
thx and enjoy ur weekend.
i had about an hr drive so i called the mechanic and he said it could be a bad gauge or the alternator. It was reading with accessories on anywhere from 12.6 - 17.1. most of the time it was in the 13's. i put it in neutral when it got too high.
its probably the alternator but is there anyway to check it before just replacing. i have a fsm but its always in another language to me.
any suggestions would be great.
thx and enjoy ur weekend.
Corvette Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
I can't think of anything but an alternator that would cause the problem you're experiencing. I would check the battery with a multimeter. You can get one really cheap at Radio Shack.
With the car off, the battery should read about 12V. When it's running, if it reads more than 14.5V or less than 13V, it's probably the alt.
With the car off, the battery should read about 12V. When it's running, if it reads more than 14.5V or less than 13V, it's probably the alt.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
Voltage regulator...
Could be your gauge or a bad ground (your FSM will help you find your ground lug(s). But, like da man said, a VOM across the battery posts will tell the tale: At quiescence after sitting a while w/ engine off, 12.8VDC ± .3 at room temp is "normal". After starting the (cold) engine, the voltage across the battery should be a steady 14.7 ± .5 (ideal), and drop down to around 13.6 when it is fully charged and good and warm.
As a rule of thumb: (cold engine) reading is typically 14.7 volts (measured with a volt meter across the battery terminals) is ideal. After being charged for some time and when the the under-hood temps rise, 13.5 is about normal. Below say 13.2 or above 16 when being charged, and you might start thinking "voltage regulator" - which is built into our alternators.
P.
As a rule of thumb: (cold engine) reading is typically 14.7 volts (measured with a volt meter across the battery terminals) is ideal. After being charged for some time and when the the under-hood temps rise, 13.5 is about normal. Below say 13.2 or above 16 when being charged, and you might start thinking "voltage regulator" - which is built into our alternators.
P.
