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Joe Russell Posted on Oct 28, 2018
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How much voltage the charging system should be?

1996 Chevrolet Silverado 5.7L when i start the engine and check the volts the number is 13.7 volts with no accessories on is that enough volts if not what could be the problem why it have low volts?

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Simon Atkinson

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  • Chevrolet Master 3,940 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 28, 2018
Simon Atkinson
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13.7 volts is within the correct charging range. While charging it should read between 13.7 and 14.7.
How old is the battery and the alternator? If the vehicle is difficult to start and you are worried, get a good mechanic to 'Load Test' the battery for voltage output. You could also have the alternator output tested to see if it is charging at the correct rate. A good Auto electrician can do both of these jobs for you.

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  • Joe Russell Oct 28, 2018

    the battery was replace octomber 6, 2016 and the alternater was replace august 26, 2017 the engine is slow cranking sometime i just want to know what is the cause?

  • Simon Atkinson
    Simon Atkinson Oct 29, 2018

    Check all the earth (ground) points to the body are clean and shiny. With the engine off, test your battery voltage last thing at night then again in the morning just before you first use it. A drop in volts means there is an electrical drain on the system.
    Is the slow cranking when the engine is cold or hot?
    Cold, suggests a drain on the electrics. An interior light stuck on, trunk light not turning off, satnav plugged into the cigar lighter. Hot and cold? Could be the starter motor is beginning to struggle.
    Weather can also affect starting. Really cold mornings can mean the engine has to work harder to turn.

  • Joe Russell Oct 29, 2018

    the slow cranking is mostly when the engine is hot but it don't do it every time when the engine is hot the interior light don't work don't have no trunk no satnav plugged into the cigar lighter.

  • Simon Atkinson
    Simon Atkinson Oct 29, 2018

    It sounds like it could be the starter motor. They tend to fail slowly over time.
    With the engine Cold and turned off, use a multimeter set to the voltage display. With the wires red to red and black to black test the battery voltage. It should read at around 12.6 volts.
    Keeping well clear of any moving engine parts and with the multimeter wires in place, get a helper to start the car. The voltage should drop. It shouldn’t drop below 9.6 volts. If it does drop lower, get the starter motor tested.
    Try the same test with the engine warmed up and see if the voltage drop is the same.

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Robert Wood

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  • Chevrolet Master 6,139 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 29, 2018
Robert Wood
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Have you performed a cranking voltage test with a voltmeter that has a min/max setting ? If it drops below 9.6 Volts while cranking it may have a connection corrosion issue or weak cables .

  • 1 more comment 
  • Joe Russell Oct 29, 2018

    i have a voltmeter what does min/max setting mean?

  • Robert Wood
    Robert Wood Oct 29, 2018

    Some meters have a minimum and maximum record button you can set to record in fractions of a second . It's easier to catch the actual cranking voltage drop with min/max turned on if the meter has it . You say it's worse when hot and that can be a heat related voltage drop on the starter cables .

  • Anonymous Nov 06, 2018

    I am using Voltmeter in my house for many years now, however, i still do not understand max/min setting? Anyway, are you interested in single girls chatting numbers? check this out
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  • Contributor 6 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 28, 2018
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Any voltage over 12 volts is fine 13.7 is great

5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 958 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 26, 2008

SOURCE: Alternator or Voltage regulator

if you can carefully put a metal wrench on the rotating pulley of the alternator and felt a magnetism attracting the metal wrench, then your alternator is charging. if there is no magnetism, then the alternator is not charging...

another test is to measure the voltage on the small wires that went in to the alternator that says "F" for field, it should measure battery voltage...that is the voltage from the regulator..that means your regulator is working...but the altrntor is not..

without that battery voltage, then the regulator is he culprit...



pls be carefull...

hope i was able to solve ur problem..

pls rate me.. tnx, drcool..

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Big Poppa Ma

Big Poppa Marv

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  • Posted on Dec 06, 2008

SOURCE: 2002 chrysler 300 M 3.5 liter immediatly quits after starting.

The ECM is most likey the culprit but I would check ground wires and wiring harness to be sure they aren't faulty. With you telling me the voltage is too high, it pretty much points to wiring but the ECM may have gone bad and its just sending blind signals hence the high voltage. The engine light isn't coming maybe because of the ECM isn't working. Pray it isnt the ECM, its costly but exhaust your options by checking wiring and ground beforing fingering the ECM

Anonymous

  • 426 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 29, 2008

SOURCE: charging problem 1991 volvo 240

14.6 means your voltage regulator or diode is suspect Despite having new alternator .Ive cross refrenced your smptoms in the haynes workshop manual and alternator is your only end answer.The haynes test is to start vehicle with multi meter connected across the battery terminals,increase the engine speed until the reading remains steady should be approximately 12 to 13v and no more than 14v.switch on as many accessories as possible(headlights heater blower radio etc)check that the alternator maintains the regulated voltage at around 13 to 14v.If the regulated voltage is not as stated then alternator is to be repaired/replaced.Good luck with it and a happy new year.

Anonymous

  • 583 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 22, 2009

SOURCE: Will not charge

you will get some funny answers from some of these "experts " The symptoms suggest to me with out much doubt that the regulator is not doing its job correctly ,consistently.Iwould take it to an AUTO ELECTRICIAN and get it tested in situ.... there is only 4 things it can be , wireing ---battery---alternator-----regulator and of those the reg. is the only one that chops and changes. it will cost little for a sparky to check the reg ,. AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE OUTCOME

motor1258

Mike Butler

  • 6674 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 01, 2010

SOURCE: 1962 CHEVROLET TRUCK with points

If/How long will it crank over before it stops? Are you saying it will crank over, but very slow? Has it been sitting quite a while. Got good spark, and fuel?

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