Guys, my voltmeter guage read around 9V yesterday morning when I started my truck up to leave work. I took around 40 - 45 minutes for the guage to get to normal (3/4's way up).
I stopped and bought a new battery thinking my battery was dying and installed it that night. I checked the voltage at the battery with the truck running. The meter read from 13 - 17.97 (kept increasing) volts while the truck was running. The voltmeter guage in the truck was the same as that morning, but did finally climb to normal.
The new battery (560 CCA ACDELCO) is not as big as the OEM (710 CCA), but had no problem starting the truck.
The dealership is stating the problem is the new battery, it's too small. I'm having them test the OEM battery as well. They did not check the votage at the battery, but load tested the alternator and said it was at 14.25, within specs.
What do you guys think is wrong? I tried my multi-meter with two different batteries when I tested the voltage, it's not the multi-meter.
They did not check the votage at the battery, but load tested the alternator and said it was at 14.25, within specs.
Thanks
Anyone feel free to correct me but the battery should be putting out 12volts with the engine off and 14+ volts with the engine running. If the your truck started up fine with the new battery and they load tested the alternator to read over 14 volts, could the problem be the volt gauge itself? I've been in a few cars where the tach needle randomly goes up and down as if the enging was reving freely but the cars were just cruising at freeway speeds. I thought all 12volt batteries are suppose to give out at least 12 volts during starting but the difference is with their amperage output or cranking power. Keep us updated.
A "good" battery should read at 12.5 volts after you've let the surface charge wear off. Down to 12.25 volts is okay too. Even down to 12 volts and some change is okay, but not great. That's really a little low.
But regardless as to the amperage of the battery (provided it is charged) it shouldn't matter if you measure at the post or the alternator, it should come up to 14 volts plus or minus. 14.25 sounds fine.
It should be pretty easy for them to charge and load test the battery to see if was bad.
But 17 volts is definitely way high. That will boil the battery.
On that new battery though, it's very possible and probably even likely that it wasn't fully charged when you bought it. So you really can't say anything one way or another until it's at full charge.
Alan
Quote:
Originally Posted by bassdog
Guys, my voltmeter guage read around 9V yesterday morning when I started my truck up to leave work. I took around 40 - 45 minutes for the guage to get to normal (3/4's way up).
I stopped and bought a new battery thinking my battery was dying and installed it that night. I checked the voltage at the battery with the truck running. The meter read from 13 - 17.97 (kept increasing) volts while the truck was running. The voltmeter guage in the truck was the same as that morning, but did finally climb to normal.
The new battery (560 CCA ACDELCO) is not as big as the OEM (710 CCA), but had no problem starting the truck.
The dealership is stating the problem is the new battery, it's too small. I'm having them test the OEM battery as well. They did not check the votage at the battery, but load tested the alternator and said it was at 14.25, within specs.
What do you guys think is wrong? I tried my multi-meter with two different batteries when I tested the voltage, it's not the multi-meter.
The voltage at the battery should be regulated somehow to never reach above 14 (ish) volts, regardless of the charge of the battery. There is definitely something wrong with the system to get to 17.97V and still continue to climb.
The new battery should have only taken minutes to fully charge. I ran the truck 20 minutes total and the voltage kept climbing. I should have tested the OEM battery first to compare
Guys, my voltmeter guage read around 9V yesterday morning when I started my truck up to leave work. I took around 40 - 45 minutes for the guage to get to normal (3/4's way up).
I stopped and bought a new battery thinking my battery was dying and installed it that night. I checked the voltage at the battery with the truck running. The meter read from 13 - 17.97 (kept increasing) volts while the truck was running. The voltmeter guage in the truck was the same as that morning, but did finally climb to normal.
The new battery (560 CCA ACDELCO) is not as big as the OEM (710 CCA), but had no problem starting the truck.
The dealership is stating the problem is the new battery, it's too small. I'm having them test the OEM battery as well. They did not check the votage at the battery, but load tested the alternator and said it was at 14.25, within specs.
What do you guys think is wrong? I tried my multi-meter with two different batteries when I tested the voltage, it's not the multi-meter.
Thanks
i think you have a faulty altenator. your battery voltage when the engine is running should not read too much over 14-14.5 volts, even if it is low on charge. if you are measuring in excess of 17 volts you have an over charging issue and you are going to ruin the battery and possibly damage electrical parts on the car as well.
__________________ keepin the rubber side down (Not linked)
They put the oem battery back in and tested everything again. Volt guage was normal and the voltage at the battery is normal. They are going to continue to test it throughout the day (working on coolant leak too)
There is always the possibility that meter you used to read the voltage was innacurate.
Alan
Quote:
Originally Posted by bassdog
They still have my truck.
They put the oem battery back in and tested everything again. Volt guage was normal and the voltage at the battery is normal. They are going to continue to test it throughout the day (working on coolant leak too)
battery charging at 18V
keepin the rubber side down
(Not linked)
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