Volt Meter / Battery
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Mesquite, Nevada / Bellevue, Wa.
Volt Meter / Battery
This probably sounds like a dumb question, but I am perplexed.
When I start my car the volt meter on the dash and the DIC will show 14.1. After I drive for a few miles (maybe 5 or 6) the voltage will drop to anywhere between 13.2 to 13.9 but will not go back up to 14.1.
Up until two days ago the voltage always read 14.1.
The battery is three years old & I drive the car almost every day.
Is this situation indicitive of a battery getting weak and starting to wear out.
Thanks for any answers to my question
When I start my car the volt meter on the dash and the DIC will show 14.1. After I drive for a few miles (maybe 5 or 6) the voltage will drop to anywhere between 13.2 to 13.9 but will not go back up to 14.1.
Up until two days ago the voltage always read 14.1.
The battery is three years old & I drive the car almost every day.
Is this situation indicitive of a battery getting weak and starting to wear out.
Thanks for any answers to my question
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
This probably sounds like a dumb question, but I am perplexed.
When I start my car the volt meter on the dash and the DIC will show 14.1. After I drive for a few miles (maybe 5 or 6) the voltage will drop to anywhere between 13.2 to 13.9 but will not go back up to 14.1.
Up until two days ago the voltage always read 14.1.
The battery is three years old & I drive the car almost every day.
Is this situation indicitive of a battery getting weak and starting to wear out.
Thanks for any answers to my question
When I start my car the volt meter on the dash and the DIC will show 14.1. After I drive for a few miles (maybe 5 or 6) the voltage will drop to anywhere between 13.2 to 13.9 but will not go back up to 14.1.
Up until two days ago the voltage always read 14.1.
The battery is three years old & I drive the car almost every day.
Is this situation indicitive of a battery getting weak and starting to wear out.
Thanks for any answers to my question
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
Hmmm....maybe not, maybe. When the car is running the gauge is showing alternator output.
This may be more than you want to know but it is interesting and educational:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...w-battery.html
This may be more than you want to know but it is interesting and educational:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...w-battery.html
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
In my situation I had Chev. dealership and Corvette repair shop check battery which is a 2005 with 35,500+ miles and both told me not to replace the battery as it wasn't necessary in my case.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,023
Likes: 1,645
From: Toronto, Canada
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
My voltage is all over the place once the car has warmed up - in the heat with the A/C on I have even seen it close to 12 volts, so far the battery has been okay. Mine is an '07 A6.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Mesquite, Nevada / Bellevue, Wa.
Thanks for all the responses.
It is hot here (100+) & I was thinking that the heat might have something to do with the fluctuating volt meter. I usually always have the air conditioning and the radio on.
The car is a 2007 A6 with 29,000 miles and the original battery.
Probably about time for an Optima Yellow Top!!!!
It is hot here (100+) & I was thinking that the heat might have something to do with the fluctuating volt meter. I usually always have the air conditioning and the radio on.
The car is a 2007 A6 with 29,000 miles and the original battery.
Probably about time for an Optima Yellow Top!!!!
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Los Angeles Ca.
I just had a similar experience to the OPs.
The gauge was down in the 13s from 14.1 volts.
While out doing some errands, I came out after the third stop, no start and the warning lights went wacko.
Pulled the battery, took it to Autozone for testing and it failed.
Put in a new battery, voila, back to normal.
The gauge was down in the 13s from 14.1 volts.
While out doing some errands, I came out after the third stop, no start and the warning lights went wacko.
Pulled the battery, took it to Autozone for testing and it failed.
Put in a new battery, voila, back to normal.
