battery gauge at startup

[av6xperience]

does anybody else's battery gauge read literally right above the red area when key is on then when started it reads the normal 13 or whatever? mine's been doing this and it has me wondering...thanks in advance

[av6xperience]

Re: quick question

sometimes its in the very top of the red area but once the engine turns over and runs it goes up to the normal whatever. is this normal or is my alternator going out? everything else power electrical wise works fine

[UDLOSE98]

Re: quick question

if its going to normal after the car starts then your battery is going out, not your alternator.

[Camaro Dom]

Re: quick question

no no no... its just doing that cuz the alt makes more power than the battery, so if you're just getting pwr from the battery the volts are lower. i got a year old optima red-top and it does exactly the same thing as what you're talkin about. normal.

[UDLOSE98]

Re: quick question

hmm, I dont notice that in my car...only if I have been running the stereo while the car has been off for awhile.

[Camaro Dom]

Re: quick question

hmm... well, mines been doing it for as long as i can remember. i guess i just wrote it off as normal. then agian, i guess i do have the e-water pump running when the key is on so that might explain it a bit. weird...

[UDLOSE98]

Re: quick question

either that or i probably dont pay close enough attention :drool:

[Nikos95]

Re: quick question

Heh if you are worried about it, put a volt meter on the battery and start the car see what its running like, give the motor a few revs, turn on your a/c, stereo, head lights, 4-ways, w/e draws power and see what your voltage runs, if you are still around 13-14, you are good.

[av6xperience]

Re: quick question

well the battery if fairly new but it is one from oreilly for like 30 or 40 bucks. the voltage is fine once the car is runnin its just when key is on w/o car runnin it reads at or right above the red