Temporary low voltage
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 87
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From: On the overpass WA State east side
Temporary low voltage
First of all my car is an 08 C6 A6 with 3600 miles.
Being a seasoned Vette owner (8 days to be precise) today I had a head scratching moment. I had been driving 30 miles or so, stopped for lunch and got caught in the rain. I am driving with my headlights on, medium rain so wipers are going, stuck at a long red light. I notice my volt meter is a bot low and I check it on DIC and I watch it slowly tick down all the way to 12.4 volts. I never got a warning, and as soon as I started driving the volts went back up to 13.8 immediately and crawled up to 14.2 or so. Is this normal? I would expect the car to hold the charge at idol. I did check voltage in the battery with the car off and it was 12.0 volts.
Is this an early sign of the crappy GM factory battery I have read about? Was this a hiccup in the voltage regulator?
Being a seasoned Vette owner (8 days to be precise) today I had a head scratching moment. I had been driving 30 miles or so, stopped for lunch and got caught in the rain. I am driving with my headlights on, medium rain so wipers are going, stuck at a long red light. I notice my volt meter is a bot low and I check it on DIC and I watch it slowly tick down all the way to 12.4 volts. I never got a warning, and as soon as I started driving the volts went back up to 13.8 immediately and crawled up to 14.2 or so. Is this normal? I would expect the car to hold the charge at idol. I did check voltage in the battery with the car off and it was 12.0 volts.
Is this an early sign of the crappy GM factory battery I have read about? Was this a hiccup in the voltage regulator?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 5
From: Ambler Pa.
First of all my car is an 08 C6 A6 with 3600 miles.
Being a seasoned Vette owner (8 days to be precise) today I had a head scratching moment. I had been driving 30 miles or so, stopped for lunch and got caught in the rain. I am driving with my headlights on, medium rain so wipers are going, stuck at a long red light. I notice my volt meter is a bot low and I check it on DIC and I watch it slowly tick down all the way to 12.4 volts. I never got a warning, and as soon as I started driving the volts went back up to 13.8 immediately and crawled up to 14.2 or so. Is this normal? I would expect the car to hold the charge at idol. I did check voltage in the battery with the car off and it was 12.0 volts.
Is this an early sign of the crappy GM factory battery I have read about? Was this a hiccup in the voltage regulator?
Being a seasoned Vette owner (8 days to be precise) today I had a head scratching moment. I had been driving 30 miles or so, stopped for lunch and got caught in the rain. I am driving with my headlights on, medium rain so wipers are going, stuck at a long red light. I notice my volt meter is a bot low and I check it on DIC and I watch it slowly tick down all the way to 12.4 volts. I never got a warning, and as soon as I started driving the volts went back up to 13.8 immediately and crawled up to 14.2 or so. Is this normal? I would expect the car to hold the charge at idol. I did check voltage in the battery with the car off and it was 12.0 volts.
Is this an early sign of the crappy GM factory battery I have read about? Was this a hiccup in the voltage regulator?
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Garland TX
My 08 C6 A6 did the same thing with 2800 miles on it. in heavy rain 70 mph quit charging for what seemed like forever, panel lights dimmed. I started to exit the road when everything came back on ???? I checked the alt wiring etc everything seemed to be good.
I have been in heavy rain since with no problems. 11,000 now. From a pilot ,aircraft owner, I am not to comfortable with electrical malfunctions that fix themselves !!!!!!!! but no longer worry about my alternator.
Good Luck !!
Happy Cruising
Harry
I have been in heavy rain since with no problems. 11,000 now. From a pilot ,aircraft owner, I am not to comfortable with electrical malfunctions that fix themselves !!!!!!!! but no longer worry about my alternator.
Good Luck !!
Happy Cruising
Harry
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 5
From: Ambler Pa.
My 08 C6 A6 did the same thing with 2800 miles on it. in heavy rain 70 mph quit charging for what seemed like forever, panel lights dimmed. I started to exit the road when everything came back on ???? I checked the alt wiring etc everything seemed to be good.
I have been in heavy rain since with no problems. 11,000 now. From a pilot ,aircraft owner, I am not to comfortable with electrical malfunctions that fix themselves !!!!!!!! but no longer worry about my alternator.
Good Luck !!
Happy Cruising
Harry
I have been in heavy rain since with no problems. 11,000 now. From a pilot ,aircraft owner, I am not to comfortable with electrical malfunctions that fix themselves !!!!!!!! but no longer worry about my alternator.
Good Luck !!
Happy Cruising
Harry
