Voltage Issue?? I think...

[xoomer]

I was wondering if it was normal for the Voltage Guage to drop in my XT6 at idle,

 

sitting without the engine ignition on it says I have 10 volts. I put the multimeter on it and it says I have 12.5, I start the car it sits just above the 12, so I'm assuming that it means 14- I put the multimeter on it and it says 14 or so.. But as soon as I turn and the heat at Idle it drops to 12-- and you see the lights flicker.... or no accessories and the turn signal makes the lights flicker.. same with the tail lights... I'm wondering if its a ground I replaced the engine to body ground... or when I dry steer at idle it does it to...?

 

I want to replace the cables tommorrow and try and find a starter... (making a little noise.)

 

I'm trying to replace everything... I've already done the alternator.!

[idosubaru]

they can be quite low at idle. make sure your terminal connections are in great condition, in other words clean or replace the battery terminal end links...or as you said, the entire cable. the ends are certainly cheaper and the rest of it should be in great shape - i've yet to see one deteriorated except at the battery connectors.

 

did you replace the plastic connector at the alternator? that's probably in poor shape too.

 

your belt isn't slipping is it?

 

also - check your crank pulley. it has a very thin black rubber ring in the middle. the metal parts of the pulley can slip around this ring and cause the belt to not spin as fast as it should. easiest way to check it is to draw a line across the face of the pulley and check it a day or week later - if the line is broken your pulley is separating and needs replaced (or welded).

[xoomer]

I have marked the Flywheel per Bucky92's advice-- No Movement, New Belt and Pulley- New alternator connector Clipped about 5 inches back.

 

My battery cables look ok... Not great or anything but ok... I've used Cleaner on them-- The Clip I replaced the still looked good for the alternator tho..

[Cougar]

Some of the diodes may be bad in the alternator since you say that the lights flicker. You could check to see if there is any AC voltage coming from the alternator by placing the meter across the battery while the engine is running and a load on the electrical system. You shouldn't see more than .2 volts AC.

 

If you want to see a better voltage reading on the dash meter you may need to clean some connections between the battery and the meter. Cleaning the dash grounding may help also along with the grounding in the engine area.

[xoomer]

I don't like the sound of that!