Low voltage problem
#1
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From: Tomball/Nacogdoches TX
Low voltage problem
There was a thread up not to long ago with my identical situation but search owns me and I can't find it to save my life.
Here recently, my voltage has been reading pretty low... Between 12-13 volts compared to 13.7-14 where it should be. It'll fluctuate sometimes especially at idle and will drop half a volt when I roll the windows up/down. I put in a mild 10" sub/amp here recently but this problem has been happening from a little before that. I don't think it's the battery because I just had it out and charged it and the problem still persists.
Everything operates as normal and the car cranks just as it should and no problems are apparent... only a voltage gauge reading really low. Every now and again the PCM is reset kinda like the battery died (but it actually didn't) and the needles will max out when I start her.
What the hell is the problem? What are the best ways to check? Thanks!
Here recently, my voltage has been reading pretty low... Between 12-13 volts compared to 13.7-14 where it should be. It'll fluctuate sometimes especially at idle and will drop half a volt when I roll the windows up/down. I put in a mild 10" sub/amp here recently but this problem has been happening from a little before that. I don't think it's the battery because I just had it out and charged it and the problem still persists.
Everything operates as normal and the car cranks just as it should and no problems are apparent... only a voltage gauge reading really low. Every now and again the PCM is reset kinda like the battery died (but it actually didn't) and the needles will max out when I start her.
What the hell is the problem? What are the best ways to check? Thanks!
#2
Does the battery go dead easy when running your stereo for a short amount of time with the engine off?
Do you have to put the battery on a charger often?
Are you running a under-drive crank pulley?
It sounds like the battery might have a dead cell, I had a very similar problem with mine before; and the battery would only take a partial charge.
IMO, Do the "Big 3" after you fix your problem.
My solution; Optima yellow top battery, "Big 3" wire upgrade with stinger 1/0 Gage wire, then I also installed a powermaster 200amp alt, and a tsunami 3 farad cap. Yeah, I went overkill, but I just wanted a piece of mind knowing that problem was behind me now, for good!
Do you have to put the battery on a charger often?
Are you running a under-drive crank pulley?
It sounds like the battery might have a dead cell, I had a very similar problem with mine before; and the battery would only take a partial charge.
IMO, Do the "Big 3" after you fix your problem.
My solution; Optima yellow top battery, "Big 3" wire upgrade with stinger 1/0 Gage wire, then I also installed a powermaster 200amp alt, and a tsunami 3 farad cap. Yeah, I went overkill, but I just wanted a piece of mind knowing that problem was behind me now, for good!
Last edited by 99Bluz28; 06-13-2008 at 03:30 PM.
#3
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From: Tomball/Nacogdoches TX
The car used to sit for a 2 or 3 weeks at a time while I was at school and then this problem slowly started to occur. I took off the sub power wire and the problem still persisted. Just measured the battery by itself and it was reading 12.4 volts
The sub is a really mild sub... nothing big at all
The sub is a really mild sub... nothing big at all
#6
Mine started to do this recenly, but I believe it is due to the hot *** weather we are having down here lately. When I drive at night when the temp has cooled down some everything looks good.
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#11
Alternators are funky.. my problem now (thats hopefully going to be fixed) was the connector wasnt fulling hitting the alternator plugs and that one wire was loose. And during then I HAD to drive to work for the 2 days for the new plug to come in. I was running off the battery till it got to about 8 volts. (Driving as fast as I possibly could to make it before the battery dies on me while driving) The alt wouldnt even kick in sometimes unless I wiggled the wire and even then it wouldnt stay.
So I connected the new plug, voltage went up.. a bit. Turned on AC, radio, rolled down windows.. and down it went. I just got a new alternator, going to be installing and I think that will be it.
Problem could be similar to yours so
So I connected the new plug, voltage went up.. a bit. Turned on AC, radio, rolled down windows.. and down it went. I just got a new alternator, going to be installing and I think that will be it.
Problem could be similar to yours so
#12
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From: Tomball/Nacogdoches TX
This may just be all in my head but here goes.
When I put the sub in, I put one of those brass tsunami battery terminal bolts on the positive post. Well, it kinda stripped on me and I just put in a different type of terminal bolt that had a little spacer to go in the battery cable. The car seemed to read normal voltage. With just driving around town, it hovered between 13.4-13.6 volts with the lowest reading of 13.2. I haven't driven it around much more to see if the problem is actually fixed, but could that previous terminal bolt create resistance from a poor connection causing a loss in voltage?
When I put the sub in, I put one of those brass tsunami battery terminal bolts on the positive post. Well, it kinda stripped on me and I just put in a different type of terminal bolt that had a little spacer to go in the battery cable. The car seemed to read normal voltage. With just driving around town, it hovered between 13.4-13.6 volts with the lowest reading of 13.2. I haven't driven it around much more to see if the problem is actually fixed, but could that previous terminal bolt create resistance from a poor connection causing a loss in voltage?