Need help with Battery Voltage reading.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Rockville Maryland
Need help with Battery Voltage reading.
This morning (temp was in the high 20's to low 30's) when i took my car out, i noticed that the BATTERY VOLTAGE jump (quickly and sometimes even back and forth) between 13.6 down to somewhere between 12.9 or as low as 12.0. Also, after i started the car at the gym (after havinig driven to the gym) it started as low as 11 and some change. While driving to and from the gym...the meter would vary between 13.8-14.0.
Is there an explanation as to why the voltage varies in its range? The normal read out usually is 14.1/14.2. Also...last night was perhaps the coldest so far in the DC area. Car is a 02 with close to 11 thousand miles on it. Perhaps it's the cold temp?
Any thoughts and/or explanations would greatly be appreciated.
Thanks.
Is there an explanation as to why the voltage varies in its range? The normal read out usually is 14.1/14.2. Also...last night was perhaps the coldest so far in the DC area. Car is a 02 with close to 11 thousand miles on it. Perhaps it's the cold temp?
Any thoughts and/or explanations would greatly be appreciated.
Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 947
Likes: 1
From: Lake Worth. Fl.,USA Fl
Re: Need help with Battery Voltage reading. (SSR)
Interesting question. My static reading after overnight sit is about 11.8 volts. Running the car the voltage varies from 12.4 to 13.8 . I have never seen it go over 14 volts. I think my battery is on the way out, however. 11.8 volts seems low to me??? Let me know..
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,380
Likes: 0
From: Life is all about power and control
Re: Need help with Battery Voltage reading. (SSR)
I asked a similar question a few weeks ago and was told that although the DIC says it is the Battery Voltage, that in fact the voltage is measured at the alternator instead. There are some losses in between battery and alternator when the engine isn't running hence the low reading when starting. Once the engine is running you are getting a reading of what the alternator is generating rather than what the battery is receiving. The DIC is a bit misleading in this respect.
I put an analogue voltmeter on the battery and got a reading of 12.2V when the DIC was saying 11.8V so I don't think you need to worry. Mine's been fine for the last month, no problems running or starting at all.
...and I'm just shy of 14,000 miles now.
[Modified by te51cle, 4:10 PM 12/3/2002]
I put an analogue voltmeter on the battery and got a reading of 12.2V when the DIC was saying 11.8V so I don't think you need to worry. Mine's been fine for the last month, no problems running or starting at all.
...and I'm just shy of 14,000 miles now.
[Modified by te51cle, 4:10 PM 12/3/2002]
Advanced
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Bowie MD
Re: Need help with Battery Voltage reading. (SSR)
I noticed the same thing when I drove my car last night. I've never noticed it before, the readings were always varying over a small range, not this larger one.
