Another Electrical Question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 25
From: Jasper GA
Another Electrical Question
I drive my procharged '98 C5 infrequently, so the battery (one year old Optima red top) lives on a trickle charger. I've noticed that when I do take it out for a blast, even though I don't turn on the headlights or A/C, the battery is below full charge when it goes back in the garage and I reconnect the Battery Tender. Shouldn't it be fully charged at that point? Is it possible that my extra fuel pump, electric water pump, meth system, etc. are pulling more than the stock alternator can provide?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I seriously doubt that your alternator cant handle the load. You can have it tested at a Starter/Alternator repair place to see what its max output AMPS is. You need a TECH2 or some other device to communicate with the PCM to do that.
Your charge voltage should be 13.5-14.5.
The voltmeter inside the car DOES NOT show you true battery voltage. It shows you the voltage output of the IGNITION SWITCH and that voltage can be significantly different than actual battery voltage at the terminals. If the switches inside the ignition switch are dirty carboned up, the output will be lower
Your charge voltage should be 13.5-14.5.
The voltmeter inside the car DOES NOT show you true battery voltage. It shows you the voltage output of the IGNITION SWITCH and that voltage can be significantly different than actual battery voltage at the terminals. If the switches inside the ignition switch are dirty carboned up, the output will be lower
