battery

[marc780]

[quote="Yanks0114"][quote="marc780"]

Your numbers are off.
Car Off: Voltage can be as low as 11.5
Idle: 12.5+
Driving: ~13.5+ (expect lower if your using air condition, head lights, etc)

I have been monitoring my voltage via my passport 8500 for atleast 4 years. All of the cars in my family have the passport 8500 all set to voltage mode, so i'm very confident in the numbers.


Yanks, i work on cars all day long. And every battery i ever saw less than 12v was for all purposes, DEAD . If it cant start the car its no good. Are you sure your VOM is right. I've seen cars run ok with 13.8 at idle but we always take it as a sign the alt is going out soon.
Im not questioning your findings on your particular car so maybe i talk to much in generalities that dont relate to you...but by and large i think most mechanics would generally agree with what i said. And maybe im ignorant but i've never heard of "low voltage mode".

[Yanks0114]

Marc - my voltage readings are correct. On my solara I can monitor it via my Avic-N1, Passport 8500, and Capacitors.

I've had three different batteries in the car and all give the same results.

My sister has a solara that averages the same numbers

My brothers 98 camry and my 96 camry also produce similar results.

I've seen some vehicles, such as my dad's GMC Sierra 2500 put out a constant 14.5, but thats a real heavy duty alternator.