Wierd voltage issue???

[Buix893]

Started the car the other day and runs fine, but for a few seconds at start-up it idles as if it were to die and the interior lights and headlights dimmed very low but when I give it throttle and the lights became bright again and all was well...


Alternator is a 140 amp...about a year old, it reads 13.9 when engine is running, and 12.3 with engine off. The battery is a Die Hard Gold, about 5 years old, it has gone dead a few times from sitting, but car stills runs fine when it's fully charged....maybe battery???

 

[Red Regal T]

Check and/or clean your battery connections. Especially the ground.

 

[Buix893]

It's clean....The battery wires are brand new, and the ground surface is nice and clean....

 

[Red Regal T]

Maybe the alternator doesn't "wake up", until you rev the engine. I remember having a situation where the volt light would be on on start-up, and then after revving the engine, it goes out. Probably just a passing glitch. Try fully charging your battery with a battery charger.

 

[TurboBuRick]

Maybe the alternator doesn't "wake up", until you rev the engine. I remember having a situation where the volt light would be on on start-up, and then after revving the engine, it goes out. Probably just a passing glitch. Try fully charging your battery with a battery charger.

X2

The bigger the amp alternator, the more rpm that is required before it will excite.

 

[Buix893]

Okie Dokie....ima do that now and report back in the morn...

 

[we4Mateo]

I recently upgraded my alternator to a 200 amp powermaster unit that mounts right in the stock location. Pully is slightly smaller to compensate for charging @ idle but alt still mounts with stock serp belt and pullies. I ran another 8gauge from battery to alt and added 4 groundstraps. Alt has adjustable regulator so I have it set at 14.5 volts or so. Hovers between 13.9 and 14.5 hot and I've only seen it max @ 14.6 when cold and first started. Car has never run better or more consistent. Other issues are gone too like bad idle and stumble at tip in. Check your wiring.

 

[Buix893]

I also have two 8 gauge wires running to the battery via the alternator, and have a ground from the battery to the frame, battery to motor, battery to fender, and fender to intake manifold...:biggrin:....I'm guessing it's not my battery or alternator, im gonna have to look elsewere

 

[VMineo]

Did you change or check the ground strap ?

 

[Buix893]

Yup...Straps are brand new, installed em about 3 months ago