Hi volt message
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 442
Likes: 24
Hi volt message
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.
also after i took the car out of storage sys was flashing but it stopped after a little while.
i tried starting it before but the battery i probably fried. it jas only .5 volts
any help is appreciated
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.
also after i took the car out of storage sys was flashing but it stopped after a little while.
i tried starting it before but the battery i probably fried. it jas only .5 volts
any help is appreciated
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
it only takes about 45 minutes to remove both the battery and alternator. did you replace the old battery or jump it ? It's not good to let a battery drain down to almost 0 volts. I would replace it. Use a trickle charger if your car sits for long periods of time without being driven.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
The voltage regulator in the alternator attempts to maintain 14.7 volts cold and this drops to 13.7 volts hot. Above 16 volts, the alternator is out of spec and can damage your electronics.
Car batteries left sitting for long periods have their plates covered with lead sulfate and at that point they are ruined. Lead sulfate is a good insulator and the battery will not draw current when a charger is connected to them. You need at least a new battery and from now on, buy and use a battery tender when you store your car. Tenders monitor the battery voltage and when they detect the charge drop 10%, they charge the battery and then shut off and go back to monitoring the battery. Batteries kept charged have a normal life, batteries left to deep discharge become trade ins.
Car batteries left sitting for long periods have their plates covered with lead sulfate and at that point they are ruined. Lead sulfate is a good insulator and the battery will not draw current when a charger is connected to them. You need at least a new battery and from now on, buy and use a battery tender when you store your car. Tenders monitor the battery voltage and when they detect the charge drop 10%, they charge the battery and then shut off and go back to monitoring the battery. Batteries kept charged have a normal life, batteries left to deep discharge become trade ins.
