Question: Need advice on Electrical

[John Robinson]

Well here is the problem. I finally have the car running great off idle. When sitting and idling the car has a moderately rough idle at about 750RPM. Have been watching the voltmeter and ran a volt meter into the car to watch at the same time. Sometimes while driving the dash digital readout is 15 volts and the meter I hooked up is 14.5 volt and I have caught it dropping down to a low 12 volt reading momentarily while driving. I have had the car since 2004 and at the time I bought it the battery was not new. I have had the battery checked and the alternator and they both test good.

Here is the part I am curious about if I have a malfunctioning alternator or battery will that cause the car to idle rough from a lack voltage?;help

 

[gmjunkie]

Well here is the problem. I finally have the car running great off idle. When sitting and idling the car has a moderately rough idle at about 750RPM. Have been watching the voltmeter and ran a volt meter into the car to watch at the same time. Sometimes while driving the dash digital readout is 15 volts and the meter I hooked up is 14.5 volt and I have caught it dropping down to a low 12 volt reading momentarily while driving. I have had the car since 2004 and at the time I bought it the battery was not new. I have had the battery checked and the alternator and they both test good.

Here is the part I am curious about if I have a malfunctioning alternator or battery will that cause the car to idle rough from a lack voltage?;help

A iffy battery can,A weak Diode in the alternator letting AC voltage slip past can,or a Voltage regulator going bad can too!! Even a bad Chassis Ground connection can!!

 

[John Robinson]

The battery was not new when I bought the car in 2004 and today I had to put a charger on for 1/2 hour to get it to start. After it started I was surprised to see it was only charging at 14 volts instead of the usual 14.6 to 14.9 I had been seeing lately. I think I will start with the battery since it is the cheapest option right now. I couple of weeks ago I had the battery and alternator tested they said the battery was fine but low so I came home and charged it overnight and the next day it still took 14.9 volts. Also back in Sept I was at the Moto GP in Indy and when I got back to the car it would not start and I got a jump then and have not had any problems until the last week. Junk I have a cold that I need some mountain elixir to make me feel better I know you have only heard about it as a cure for a cold but have not tried it right

 

[Paul Higg]

A iffy battery can,A weak Diode in the alternator letting AC voltage slip past can,or a Voltage regulator going bad can too!! Even a bad Chassis Ground connection can!!

Junk, you are amazing! VERY good troubleshooting. Another keeper for my files!

 

[John Robinson]

Battery

I put a new battery in today and then went for a 40 mile drive to my doctor. The first thing I noticed was the idle was lower and the car seemed to be a bit more lively. The big surprise came when I looked at the Gas mileage for this trip and it was about 2 MPG better than it has ever been for the same trip(this improvement was with me enjoying burst up to the century mark several times for fun). The volts are reading about 14.3 now that I have have put a charge in the battery by driving it. When I first started it the volts were at 14.6 which I figure was about right for an off the shelf battery.:L

 

[Paul Higg]

Yup, voltage is good. I usually get 14.3 myself. But I rarely go over 130 anymore since I got $140 for 77 in a 55. First ticket in my life. Arrrrggghhhh.

 

[LT4man]

I put a new battery in today and then went for a 40 mile drive to my doctor. The first thing I noticed was the idle was lower and the car seemed to be a bit more lively. The big surprise came when I looked at the Gas mileage for this trip and it was about 2 MPG better than it has ever been for the same trip(this improvement was with me enjoying burst up to the century mark several times for fun). The volts are reading about 14.3 now that I have have put a charge in the battery by driving it. When I first started it the volts were at 14.6 which I figure was about right for an off the shelf battery.:L

John, some folks forget that a battery does not only start the vehicle, but is also the sole source of energy for the ignition system. Congratulations on your repair!

WHILE YOU WERE OUT DRIVING, I HOPE YOU WERE SAVING THE !

 

[John Robinson]

Yup, voltage is good. I usually get 14.3 myself. But I rarely go over 130 anymore since I got $140 for 77 in a 55. First ticket in my life. Arrrrggghhhh.

A couple of years ago I was out in the early morning on motorcycle I had bought the day before and was cruising along at 110 when I looked up and saw a county police officer coming at me. I saw him look at his radar and then his break lights came on Oh Oh. I just pulled over removed my helmet and got out the paper work. He came up and asked the usual question did I know how fast I was going. Yup I said 110 and he looked at me like I was the star attraction in a freak show then I said I had a ticket coming I was speeding and had earned it and he would not get any excuses from me about it.

He took my paper work back to the cruiser and when he returned he said I had no priors and he was letting me go with a warning. Then he said in 15 years of being a patrol officer he never had anyone just pull over and wait for him to catch up. Next he said he also could not remember the last time someone actually admitted to the speed they were going and then asked for the ticket because they had earned it. Then he helped me put everything away waited until I had my riding gear on and then stopped traffic so I could get back on the road.

The moral of this I have figured out is to be honest and pleasant with others and they will respond more favourably to you.

 

[LT4man]

John, from actually having the great pleasure of meeting you, I believe how that story came to be! You are so right! A little bit of integrity goes a long way!

After Juan Uribe of the Chicago White Sox hit a home run this past summer, I floored my GP because I was so thrilled for him. Too bad for me, there were two IL State Troopers in the center shoulder waiting for me. I pulled over. The officer came up to my passenger window and I politely told him why I was traveling so fast. Turns out the officer was a Sox fan, also. He chatted with me about some Sox issues happening. Then said he had to go back to work. He walked back to his squad car and after about 5 minutes came back. He lowered my speed from 65 to 55 in a 40 and handed me a warning ticket! Told me to slow down in the future and sent me on my way!

Go Sox!!!!

SAVE THE !

 

[BigJimZ16]

John, from actually having the great pleasure of meeting you, I believe how that story came to be! You are so right! A little bit of integrity goes a long way!

After Juan Uribe of the Chicago White Sox hit a home run this past summer, I floored my GP because I was so thrilled for him. Too bad for me, there were two IL State Troopers in the center shoulder waiting for me. I pulled over. The officer came up to my passenger window and I politely told him why I was traveling so fast. Turns out the officer was a Sox fan, also. He chatted with me about some Sox issues happening. Then said he had to go back to work. He walked back to his squad car and after about 5 minutes came back. He lowered my speed from 65 to 55 in a 40 and handed me a warning ticket! Told me to slow down in the future and sent me on my way!

Go Sox!!!!

SAVE THE !

A Juan Uribe homer, HOLY S**T!! You better celebrate... that don't happen very often.:W

 

[Paul Higg]

I guess it didn't help that I didn't remove the cigarette before telling the cop to kiss my A**.

Just kidding. I did the same thing. I admitted fault, and when he asked me why I was speeding I told him the truth, we were late for my wife's doctor's appointment. This guy looked so young he could have been my son! But this area is known for jerk cops. They NEVER give breaks. It was totally my fault though, I was just a minute before doing 100 blowing the doors off some punk in a Mustang.

Ce lest vie.

Paul

 

[LT4man]

A Juan Uribe homer, HOLY S**T!! You better celebrate... that don't happen very often.:W

This was the Friday night Juan hit TWO homers! I was not driving when he hit the second!

I DID TRY TO SAVE THE

 

[minifridge1138]

This was the Friday night Juan hit TWO homers! I was not driving when he hit the second!

I DID TRY TO SAVE THE

Thank god, someone could have been killed.

Just kidding.

I never got a ticket for speeding, but I got one for spinning tires once. I told the truth, the cop thought I was lying, and I got a $180 ticket and a Saturday in driver's ed.

Good Luck

 

[Paul Higg]

Ya know, cops ruin ALL our fun!

 

[English Guy]

Here in England you only see cops driving around when we get some rare sunny weather(no kidding)but unmanned speed camera's are everywhere!

 

[Paul Higg]

I lived in the UK for three years in the 80's and from what I have read it is literally like Orwell's nightmare 1984. I don't see how you blokes can put up with all those cameras.

 

[English Guy]

HI PAUL
You're not wrong about G.O'S 1984.Since Labour govt took over the country has been run into the ground and most folk are a lot worse off,our Prime minister is a lunatic and would probably feel more at home in communist China.As for speed camera's most people use g.p.s based gizmo's warning of fixed camera sites to level the playing field ,but you still have police officers hiding behind trees,bushes ect with speed guns lol!
Take it easy
Brian.

 

[Paul Higg]

What I have read horrifies me. You are supposedly seen on camera at least 100 times per day in London. I used to go to London every weekend. It is not the London of the 80's. Also, there is another population moving in, I won't mention it. Now they have trash monitors, cops that can take DNA on the spot, the list is endless. To me England has now become Orwell's tyranny. I couldn't even imagine how British people put up with it. I guess it is the boil a frog theory.

However, what happens in England eventually travels to the U.S. Already Chicago is inundated with cameras. We live in strange times indeed.

I was stationed at R.A.F. Upper Heyford and have found the British people to be some of the nicest people in the world and thanks to the Air Force I have gotten so see most of it. I especially liked pub crawling, darts, snooker, Newcastle Brown Ale, and my favorite of all, shepherd's pie!!

Cheers to you my British friend. And keep that Vette running well.

 

[geekinavette]

John, some folks forget that a battery does not only start the vehicle, but is also the sole source of energy for the ignition system. Congratulations on your repair!

WHILE YOU WERE OUT DRIVING, I HOPE YOU WERE SAVING THE !

Ummmm not unless the alternator has gone on strike!

 

[82ColEd]

Ok, just for my understanding please:
I was always under the impression that the battery starts the car, and power some extras, such as lights while driving, but essentially has nothing more to do afterwards.