Ian H
Member
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- 167
My battery charging voltage on the dash always seemed a bit low (indicated ~11-12 volts) and wondered around a bit based upon load but never caused any issues.
After a major service it now seems even lower. With Air con and full lights on it is indicated ~10 volts but with no discharge warning light.
This wander back up to 11-12 volts when power load is taken off - interestingly the engine idle temporarily shifts a few 100 rpm when A/c is turned on/off before going back to 1000 rpm.
Based upon multiu meter readings at the battery terminals:
On idle and no electrical load it reads 14.3 volts
On full load (air con. /lights rear window) at idle this drop to 12.8 volts but picks back up to 14 volts at higher RPM
The Bosch battery is only a couple of years old. The car has been infrequently used but most of the time it is plugged into a battery conditioner.
It did go flat during service. Have fully recharged but doesn't seem to have made any difference.
Should I start getting worried that the alternator is on way out / regulator wrong or is this another fine Italian design feature with the dash gauge more closely indicating the weather than the state of the battery?
Many thanks
Ian
After a major service it now seems even lower. With Air con and full lights on it is indicated ~10 volts but with no discharge warning light.
This wander back up to 11-12 volts when power load is taken off - interestingly the engine idle temporarily shifts a few 100 rpm when A/c is turned on/off before going back to 1000 rpm.
Based upon multiu meter readings at the battery terminals:
On idle and no electrical load it reads 14.3 volts
On full load (air con. /lights rear window) at idle this drop to 12.8 volts but picks back up to 14 volts at higher RPM
The Bosch battery is only a couple of years old. The car has been infrequently used but most of the time it is plugged into a battery conditioner.
It did go flat during service. Have fully recharged but doesn't seem to have made any difference.
Should I start getting worried that the alternator is on way out / regulator wrong or is this another fine Italian design feature with the dash gauge more closely indicating the weather than the state of the battery?
Many thanks
Ian
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