Battery Light.........

[Tbar]

I have an intermitant battery light coming on. The Battery "Gauge" reads normal.

This morning I put a voltmeter on it and it was reading 14.8-14.9. On the way home the meter dropped to 14.3 and the light went out.

I wonder if I have a voltage regulator sticking on me.


Tbar

 

[powerboatr]

I have an intermitant battery light coming on. The Battery "Gauge" reads normal.

This morning I put a voltmeter on it and it was reading 14.8-14.9. On the way home the meter dropped to 14.3 and the light went out.

I wonder if I have a voltage regulator sticking on me.


Tbar

i thought if the light went out it meant everything was fine,
is that a 14.3 with all accesories on?

 

[Tbar]

i thought if the light went out it meant everything was fine,
is that a 14.3 with all accesories on?

Correct...........my question is why is it coming on. All readings were with headlights, HVAC and radio on.

FWIW.............the light went out when I came to a stop light and came back on when I got up to speed. Also, speed didn't seem to have any effect on the multimeter reading.


Tbar

 

[powerboatr]

loose ground?
or the regulator is teeets
yank it off and go have it tested for free at autozonie its

 

[BIG JOE]

loose ground?
or the regulator is teeets
yank it off and go have it tested for free at autozonie its

I'm with PB about Testo, Testo

Batt connections clean ??

 

[bushpilot]

sounds like a connection issue, perhaps at the alternator...you could
be running on the batteries when the connection of the alternator "opens"
or shorts <which might explain the dash light>.

as i recall the factory / in-dash voltmeters were meaningless.

 

[Tbar]

Thought if I was running on bats that I would see a reading at best in the 12v-13v range.

I will have to check the connections in the next day or two.......


Tbar

 

[bushpilot]

Thought if I was running on bats that I would see a reading at best in the 12v-13v range.

I will have to check the connections in the next day or two.......


Tbar

thats true assuming fully charged batteries...my only GUESS is that
w/ an intermitant charge issue or SHORT you could see all kinds of readings.

the voltage regulator in the alternator could also be "acting up" too...

and again im not CERTAIN about the in dash voltmeter...i seem to remember
folks who had it complaining about it being nothing more than an idiot light w/
a pointer.

my modyr doesnt have a voltmeter so i bought a plug in one...i typically use it
when towing or traveling...but i find myself using it more and more (what w/ all
the amps etc in my truck...i like to keep tabs on the charging system & batteries).

the plug in unit plugs into the power-outlet (aka cig lighter)...w/ the truck OFF
itll indicate the combined battery voltage....w/ the truck RUNNING it indicates
the voltage output of the alternator...im not doing anything SPECIAL, its just the
way our truck works.

cyberdyne voltmeter

 

[roosterdiesel]

This morning I put a voltmeter on it and it was reading 14.8-14.9. On the way home the meter dropped to 14.3 and the light went out.

He's not using the factory gauge the way I read it.

 

[Tbar]

He's not using the factory gauge the way I read it.

Should of been more specific............I was using my Multimeter.


Tbar