Noticed lately that while cruising my voltage is right around 13. Shouldn't it be more at 14.4 or so? Also noticed that when i give it a good amount of gas the voltage sometimes dips down to 12 or so. Is my alternator going?

 

your battery should make 12.4 and you alt should make 14.4. if it is dipping below 12 there is a problem.

 

Also check for belt slipping.. Have your battery load tested.....

 

hmmm, will check tomorrow. anyone else?

 

My ell tee won is like 12.8v while driving.

 

To some extent, it depends where you are getting your reading from. If you are running scan software, the voltage will generally show around 13.0 +/-. If you are looking at the dash volt meter, it will usually be higher than that.

 

Mine does something similar....At idle with no electrical load its straight up. If I turn on the a/c it dips way down to the middle of the red, but if I'm driving with no a/c on and it starts dipping, I just turn on the headlights and it brings it up a few volts.

My guess is you got a diode going out. I found out on mine by feedback through the radio, I can hear the alternator feedback now which I never heard before, my dad says when alternators start going they make all kinds of electrical noise.

 

maybe this would explain why whenever i use my ipod hookup i get a "whining" through the speakers that is consistent with engine rpms. hmmm