dangerously high volt reading??
#1
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dangerously high volt reading??
I have an optima red top battery thats been in my car for like a year now hassle free and it IS the correct battery for my car.
but, latly i have been noticing oddly high volt readings on my gauges.. im talking like 16 volts... not quite to the red line on the gauge... but gettin pretty close... i remember normal being like 13...
basically im just wondering if this is bad, what could cause it to happen, and what if anything i should do about it..
thanks for the help =]
Jared
but, latly i have been noticing oddly high volt readings on my gauges.. im talking like 16 volts... not quite to the red line on the gauge... but gettin pretty close... i remember normal being like 13...
basically im just wondering if this is bad, what could cause it to happen, and what if anything i should do about it..
thanks for the help =]
Jared
#7
You can get a small pocket sized digital volt meter from radio shack for cheap. 16V running after warmed up is too high. My red top on a cold start can get almost to the 3rd mark on the gauge, but falls back down after a few minutes. The voltage regulator is internal to the alternator.
#8
more than likeley you have either a bad rectifier or a bad regulator in your alternator.
either get it rebuilt or get a new one....autozone can check it for you. I don't know about dry cell batteries but in a wet cell it can make the batt. explode
either get it rebuilt or get a new one....autozone can check it for you. I don't know about dry cell batteries but in a wet cell it can make the batt. explode
#11
if the charging voltage @ normal temp is around 16v (checking voltage at the battery) definatly the regulator is bad. dont waste the money and buy another alt, just find a starter & alt shop in your area and you can either rebuild or repair yours.
#12
i also have the optima red top battery and have the original 92,000 mile 140 amp alt and when i start my car when its cold it hits that last line before the red on the guage i've put a voltmeter on the battery and voltage is in excess of 15 volts
#14
The Optima is not a "dry cell".... its a conventional wet acid/lead battery that happens to have the lead wrapped in spirals rather than flat plates. Other than that, it observes the same laws of physics as any other lead/acid battery. Optima warns in their FAQ that excessive voltage/charging can cause gassing, even with the "sealed" case. And that gas include hydrogen, and can explode. My neighbor's Infinity Q45 battery exploded a few minutes after he parked it in his garage, causing a fire that consumed a large part of the Q45, part of his garage and caused smoke damage in the house.
#15
When my brothers Jeep was reading high voltage (his gauge was up in the red) it ended up just being very corroded battery connections and old cables. I would make sure those are okay before getting a new alternator.