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Old Oct 17, 2015 | 09:43 AM
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Default Now Voltage Fluctuating?

Starter is up everything tight, took out this morning, had it up to 13.8 for a time about 5 miles it starter to go down. The neg connection was loos so I tighned it up with pos connection. Goes down to 11.9 again after new starter.

During initial start up though it read 13.5, when driving the volts on DIC drop, any suggestions.
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Old Oct 17, 2015 | 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by corvet786c
Starter is up everything tight, took out this morning, had it up to 13.8 for a time about 5 miles it starter to go down. The neg connection was loos so I tighned it up with pos connection. Goes down to 11.9 again after new starter.

During initial start up though it read 13.5, when driving the volts on DIC drop, any suggestions.
Ok this is your 3rd Thread on this issue. We can deal with that but you can't assume everyone has read the other 2 and know the history and what you did to get here.

Explain what you did change so others can evaluate and comment.


Mr. Sam
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Old Oct 17, 2015 | 01:04 PM
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Originally Posted by dadaroo
Ok this is your 3rd Thread on this issue. We can deal with that but you can't assume everyone has read the other 2 and know the history and what you did to get here.

Explain what you did change so others can evaluate and comment.


Mr. Sam
I dont care if this is the 100th thread.Because this is now an entirly different issue. Finally have it running, Starts well, initial start up 13.5 then about 5 min goes down to about 12.5.
I am going to measure battery while idle, then run a cable from alt directly to batt, measure will come back with results.

Also where is the ignition switch located? Where do I find it. I can check that too.
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Old Oct 17, 2015 | 02:00 PM
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I just took the car to the store to get gas and the voltage on DIC is all over the place. There is def something wrong from 11.7 all the way to 15.1 and just throwing out numbers, its not consistant. Any Ideas? Thanks for your responses.
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Old Oct 17, 2015 | 02:04 PM
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When this is happening, what do you have at the battery and at the alternator?
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Old Oct 17, 2015 | 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by GCG
When this is happening, what do you have at the battery and at the alternator?
Well just the normal, 2ndary pos cable to fuse box etc.

Just a backround, I cleaned the ground this morning underneith the battery, it was really dirty and retighten it.

Last week before I changed out the starter, I ran a direct cable from the alt to the battery reading 14.1

Now this afternoon did the same thing and DIC reading 12.9, I don.t understand this. Everything is correctly tightened at the solinoid at the starter, I retightened the grounds, dont know where else to look.
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Old Oct 17, 2015 | 05:21 PM
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With the car off, a good battery should read about 12.6 volts (at the battery, not the DIC). When you start the car, it should jump up to over 14 volts, preferably 14.4 volts (again, at the battery, not the DIC).
Please post what results you get doing these two simple measurements.
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Old Oct 17, 2015 | 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by knewblewkorvette
With the car off, a good battery should read about 12.6 volts (at the battery, not the DIC). When you start the car, it should jump up to over 14 volts, preferably 14.4 volts (again, at the battery, not the DIC).
Please post what results you get doing these two simple measurements.
With eng off it reads 12 volts, initial start up its 14 volts but then starts to drop to 13 and 12.8 volts. I cleaned all the ground terminals on the frame on driver side and pass side. They were dirty but did not change situation.

I am really wondering if its the alt. A couple of days ago I took the red pos off the alt and put a direct line to the batt and it was reading at 14.1 for a few minutes.

While car was warm today did the same thing and I got 12.9 from pos alt to pos batt. Don't know what else to do.

I am researching the forum tring to find answers. Thoughts?
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Old Oct 17, 2015 | 06:12 PM
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Sounds like altenator is going bad.
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Old Oct 17, 2015 | 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by knewblewkorvette
Sounds like altenator is going bad.
ok thanks
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Old Oct 17, 2015 | 09:23 PM
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Originally Posted by GCG
When this is happening, what do you have at the battery and at the alternator?
What I meant was that when voltage at DIC was doing what you described, what was the voltage measuring directly at the battery and measuring directly at the alternator.

It would be useful to know what voltage you have at those 3 places (DIC, battery and alternator) "simultaneously" (or as close in time as possible).
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 10:25 AM
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Do you have a solid pulley on the alt or a clutch?
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by corvet786c
I dont care if this is the 100th thread. Because this is now an entirly different issue.
You have no idea what's wrong, but you think it's completely unrelated to the previous stuff.
Ooookay.
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 01:03 PM
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Originally Posted by reath1
Do you have a solid pulley on the alt or a clutch?
Standard alt procharged car.
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 01:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Lee DeRaud
You have no idea what's wrong, but you think it's completely unrelated to the previous stuff.
Ooookay.
I do know whats wrong, it called narrowing it down my friend. Nothing wrong with what I previously posted, looking for advice and those who has gone thru this before.
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 01:09 PM
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I am leaning now poss alternator, when cold starts its around 14.1 volts, then as it warms up beginning to fluctuate like 13.5 12.9 11.8 15.1 14.1 etc etc. I tested a cable from alt to battery still fluctuating. Tested battery stable 12.2 volts.

Does anyone know is it difficult to rebuild your own alt? Whats all involved or just buy one.
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 04:05 PM
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Originally Posted by corvet786c
...then as it warms up beginning to fluctuate like 13.5 12.9 11.8 15.1 14.1 etc etc...
Where are you getting these measurements from? Are they coming from DIC, or you are using a multimeter and measuring directly at battery or alternator?

As I said before, it would be good to have the 3 separate sets of voltages (one from DIC, one from battery and one from alternator) when what you describe is happening.

You will need a multimeter to read from battery and alternator.
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 05:16 PM
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Originally Posted by GCG
Where are you getting these measurements from? Are they coming from DIC, or you are using a multimeter and measuring directly at battery or alternator?

As I said before, it would be good to have the 3 separate sets of voltages (one from DIC, one from battery and one from alternator) when what you describe is happening.

You will need a multimeter to read from battery and alternator.
These readings are coming from the DIC, then I took the volt meter and measured the pos alt, it was reading the same thing irratic, the batt stays at 12

During initial start up (cold start )the DIC reads 14.1 volts, until it warms up then it become irratic back to 11.7 then 12.5 etc etc.

I just took the alt to get tested at autozone and oreilly's and it passed.

Last edited by corvet786c; Oct 18, 2015 at 05:19 PM.
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Lee DeRaud
You have no idea what's wrong, but you think it's completely unrelated to the previous stuff.
Ooookay.


I figured that out from his Post 4 after all I had done on his first two posts to ID how to diagnosis that related issue.

By all means OP, don't provide any background info like I requested in Post 3 for everybody.

I have been out of here since Post 4. I like to help people and I have more than enough others I am dealing with. Spending 2 to 3 hours on this Forum each day with people who like being helped keeps me very busy. I like working with 4 or 5 Forums over several car types I have and that adds to that time. If I was smart I would spend more time with my paying clients. It pays way better and they are grateful.


Mr. Sam P.E. (The Old Fart)
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by dadaroo


I figured that out from his Post 4 after all I had done on his first two posts to ID how to diagnosis that related issue.

By all means OP, don't provide any background info like I requested in Post 3 for everybody.

I have been out of here since Post 4. I like to help people and I have more than enough others I am dealing with. Spending 2 to 3 hours on this Forum each day with people who like being helped keeps me very busy. I like working with 4 or 5 Forums over several car types I have and that adds to that time. If I was smart I would spend more time with my paying clients. It pays way better and they are grateful.

So I am on these fourms to get help and try to diagnose what could be the cause, testing and replying back with results.


Mr. Sam P.E. (The Old Fart)


Sir, what information have you given me in related to my problem that I have not already tested and tried. I am constantly replying on the info I have and pin point what could be the possible cause. Instead of complaining about what other posts I have up, comment, if u can help, if not then go somewhere else.

Last edited by corvet786c; Oct 18, 2015 at 06:02 PM.
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