Hi guys,

I am experiencing voltage drop when the car warms up. At startup, the voltage is nice and strong at 14. After 15 minutes or so the voltage will drop steadily to 12, and you can see the voltage drop further when accessories are running (especially cooling fans and power windows).

The car starts fine in the morning, this only happens after the car has warmed up.

One thing I have noticed is that when I turn the car off and use the power windows, voltage drops way down to around 9 or 10 volts. Could this be a bad battery maybe?

So, does anyone have an alternator sitting around, or would anyone be willing to lend me theirs for a few hours so I can drive around and see if the same thing happens? I don't want to buy a reconditioned unit for 200 + core and find out that the altnerator isn't the problem.

 

u know u could've just asked on msn to borrow mine

u can have it on sunday for a few days

 

Almost the exact same thing happened to my Vette last summer...ended up replacing the battery AND alternator before the voltage levels were within acceptable parameters.

I *may* have a spare alternator somewhere, I'll call you later if I find it.

A.

 

houman has my spare get it off him then return it to me! that ba$tard hasnt given it back to me. if your voltage it dropping off after your car is off then id say its your battery, but its probably been doing this for a while and you havent noticed and taken its toll on your alternator as well.