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Battery Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Max1416
  • Start date Start date Jan 28, 2016

Max1416

Member
Jan 1, 2016
22
9
13
Jan 28, 2016
#1
  • Jan 28, 2016
  • #1
What is a generally good battery show on the battery display? Since I bought my car my battery always read slightly above the red to slightly below half when driving. Battery was old and car wasn't driven alot before I bought it. Recently battery was dead had to jump it got a new battery no problems since but the gauge still reads slightly above the red at idle and goes up to slightly below half while driving. Is this normal seems a bit low to me.
 

Shakerhood

20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 28, 2004
3,355
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Ohio
Jan 28, 2016
#2
  • Jan 28, 2016
  • #2
Don't pay too much attention to the dash gauge, you would be better off sticking a volt meter on the battery with it running to see.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,158
17,852
224
Massachusetts
Jan 29, 2016
#3
  • Jan 29, 2016
  • #3
Batt gauge sucks. Use a meter


12V when car is off. 12V at idle, and 14V as soon as you go slightly above idle
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
8,859
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In the garage
Jan 29, 2016
#4
  • Jan 29, 2016
  • #4
You need 12.7 to start a car. Stock gauges are notoriously bad. invest in a decent DVM and measure the battery output with the car off, at idle and around 1500pm.
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
42,881
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Box behind Walmart
Jan 30, 2016
#5
  • Jan 30, 2016
  • #5
I like my old in-dash amp meter. Only thing it's good for is telling you whether the battery is charging or discharging. You really need a volt meter know what's going on.

I could say the same for folks who have only a volt meter. I like the combination.
 

flstang65

10 Year Member
Dec 6, 2007
1,484
135
94
SE Georgia
Jan 31, 2016
#6
  • Jan 31, 2016
  • #6
You can use the voltmeter to check the output of the alternator as well when you need to
 
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