Alternator is original as far as I know 96k miles...got the car at 30k so ATLEAST 66k miles on it. My voltage on the dash stays a little above the 13 middle line, scanner reads 12.8-13.0 fluctuating when I have my SLP fan switch on HIGH with wipers, radio, rear defrost, and headlights on. With all of that off it is only maybe .2 higher on the scanner. My problem is that when I switch the fans on to HIGH the volts go down to 11.2-11.8 real quick then back up...I think it should handle this no? Also when starting the car I have seen the voltage drop below 10 then go back up. BTW I am using an Autoxray scanner to read voltage. Also the dash needle moves back and forth really quickly with everything turned on. Maybe I am just paranoid, what should I be reading from my alternator? Could it be slowly going out and losing power? I have seen some people say they read 14 volts, hopefully I am not slowly watching the thing die Luckily I do not think the install is too bad.

 

go get your alternator tested. My car was only putting out 12.5 volts on my scanmaster so i went to autozone and had them test it on the car. They said it was putting out over 14 volts, so i knew something was eatting up all my juice. It ended up being the fuel pump. I put in a new pump and added Racetronix fuel pump harness and now my car charges at 14 volts.

 

wouldnt worry mine does the same thing . the amp draw at startup is very high

 

My car does the same thing when the fans start up on HIGH. Not sure about the voltages, but the needle does dip then come back up when the fans start.

Both fans comming on at the same time has a pretty serious amp draw which causes some voltage drop, the voltage regulator isnt that quick to pick up the quick drop, and once it does the amp draw drops anyway.

I would still check the voltages, but a slight dip when the fans come on is normal