95TAGary

iTrader: (4)

I have a 1995 TA and one year old yellow top optima. I noticed lately my battery guage drops from 14 amp reading to around 10 when sitting in traffic. Is this normal? I thought the reading would hold around 14 amps all the time. As soon as I apply the gas it jumps back to 14 reading. I also have two subs/amps in the car and it does this with and without the radio on. Is there something drawing a charge and if so how do I check it? Maybe this is normal and I just noticed it was doing this a few days ago. Car starts ok as well.

Any ideas? Thanks

Alex94TAGT

I would suspect the alternator more than the battery. My car did something very similar, and I tore the alternator apart to find the internal brush holder (plastic!) had broken -- brushes weren't making good contact with the commutator armature. I'd also double-check the exciter wire on the rear of the alternator -- sometimes the female terminals of the electrical connector fail.

THEN maybe I'd look into battery/cables.

DAVE00

iTrader: (10)

Take it to your local autoparts store and they can check the alternator and battery to see which one is the culprit.

95TAGary

iTrader: (4)

Ok, I'll take it to Autozone to have them check it. Thanks

iceman15

iTrader: (10)

yea totally sounds like your alternator isnt charging the system.