Help diagnose my voltage problems
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 4
From: Official Misfit Cooler Owner
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Help diagnose my voltage problems
My car at idle jumps around between 10 and 13 volts and my exterior and interior lights flicker. I can't figure out what is causing my issues but figure it is one of the following.
1 - Low battery ? My car always come up to Odometer setting and I heard this is a sign of low battery.
2 - Alternator problems?
3 - CAM / Tune issues. I have a 226/230 cam so my idle is not exactly stock.
What should I address first?
1 - Low battery ? My car always come up to Odometer setting and I heard this is a sign of low battery.
2 - Alternator problems?
3 - CAM / Tune issues. I have a 226/230 cam so my idle is not exactly stock.
What should I address first?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,571
Likes: 1
From: Hollywood Md
Well John, it could be #3 - given a serious "lope" and a low idle speed it might happen.
It could be low battery.
It could be bad grounds.
It could be the alternator.
Put up battery voltage on the DIC. It should read a steady 14 volts + or - a couple tenths at cruise.
With the car not running and the key on you should have 12 volts give or take a tenth or so.
Get these results and from there we can get more help.
It could be low battery.
It could be bad grounds.
It could be the alternator.
Put up battery voltage on the DIC. It should read a steady 14 volts + or - a couple tenths at cruise.
With the car not running and the key on you should have 12 volts give or take a tenth or so.
Get these results and from there we can get more help.
Last edited by cenzo; May 26, 2005 at 09:54 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 84
From: St. Joseph MO
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Car off, measure battery voltage (it will be about 1/2 volt higher than dic). Start the car measure alternator output terminal voltage (1/2 volt higher than dic again). Now measure the battery voltage, should be exactly the same as alt voltage. Now on passenger side look towards the starter and verify the terminal wires are all tight. If everythig there looks good, alt and battery should be tested. 
