Car Battery/Alternator problem - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Adoyle92 · 07-24-2018, 10:47 AM

I was driving my 2010 this morning and noticed my battery voltage was down to 12.5 it normally is around 14.5-14.7. After about 5-10 minutes of driving the voltage went up to 14.3. When I got to where I needed to be I turned off my car and turned it back on about a hour later to head home and battery voltage was 14.3. Then as I drove home in about 5 minutes it dropped all the way to 12.7 and stayed there until I got home. Is this my alternator about to die or is battery just not holding a charge?

qcman · 07-24-2018, 10:57 AM

I don't think its either. The car can regulate voltage charging depending on the battery's state of charge. It will charge less when the battery is up and more when it's a little down. And that is normal.

My car can vary depending on the amount of use the car gets. I think you are fine but perhaps someone else will comment as well.

frankwjr · 07-24-2018, 10:58 AM

original battery? if so replace ASAP with a good AGM style....also chase your grounds....take care of the basics before opening a can of worms....saves time and $$$...good luck!

peace

Adoyle92 · 07-24-2018, 11:03 AM

Not original battery, battery was replaced 2 years ago this October

blake-b · 07-24-2018, 11:55 AM

That is normal behavior.

SSEssence · 07-24-2018, 12:43 PM

That is normal, I saw that too and wondered but its normal behavior

Mike.Ss · 07-25-2018, 08:43 AM

Normal.
One of my earlier posts pointed to another post that describes this behavior.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

gutterball · 07-25-2018, 09:55 AM

This is normal operation, when the system sees your Batt is charged, it shuts off, when this happens your just reading your Batt. Voltage. If your Batt starts to get low, alternater kicks in, now your reading your Alternater Voltage.

Rock-It Man · 07-25-2018, 10:12 AM

The voltage you see on the gauge is the charging voltage and it varies as required to keep the battery charged but not overcharged.

When the charging voltage stays high all the time, your battery is getting old. 2 years is not old, unless you're abusing it, like for example storing the car for the winter without a battery tender.

07-24-2018, 10:47 AM	#1
Adoyle92 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Illinois Posts: 2	Car Battery/Alternator problem I was driving my 2010 this morning and noticed my battery voltage was down to 12.5 it normally is around 14.5-14.7. After about 5-10 minutes of driving the voltage went up to 14.3. When I got to where I needed to be I turned off my car and turned it back on about a hour later to head home and battery voltage was 14.3. Then as I drove home in about 5 minutes it dropped all the way to 12.7 and stayed there until I got home. Is this my alternator about to die or is battery just not holding a charge?

07-24-2018, 10:58 AM	#3
frankwjr Drives: 2010 SS 2SS M6 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Smithsburg, Md. Posts: 2,445	original battery? if so replace ASAP with a good AGM style....also chase your grounds....take care of the basics before opening a can of worms....saves time and $$$...good luck! peace __________________ 2010 SS 2SS M6 - Tune by RDP dynoSteve!(Woot) - Daily Driver - *150K!* - All work by me...

07-24-2018, 12:43 PM	#6
SSEssence Instagram: Sangstah Drives: 2019 Camaro 1LE Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Buena Park, CA. Posts: 2,803 View My Garage	That is normal, I saw that too and wondered but its normal behavior __________________ 2019 SS 1LE - "CaSSandra" 2014 SS - "AleSSandra - Sold" 94 Z28 - Sold Follow the build https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=612717

07-25-2018, 08:43 AM	#7
Mike.Ss Drives: 2014 2SS/RS Bright Yellow Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: West Haven, Ct Posts: 487	Normal. One of my earlier posts pointed to another post that describes this behavior. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk __________________ 2014 2SS/RS Bright Yellow Mods: NEC5 window stickers (+10hp)

07-24-2018, 10:57 AM	#2
qcman Drives: 2013 Camaro 2SS RDP Tuned L99 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada eh? Posts: 1,889	I don't think its either. The car can regulate voltage charging depending on the battery's state of charge. It will charge less when the battery is up and more when it's a little down. And that is normal. My car can vary depending on the amount of use the car gets. I think you are fine but perhaps someone else will comment as well.

07-24-2018, 11:03 AM	#4
Adoyle92 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Illinois Posts: 2	Not original battery, battery was replaced 2 years ago this October

07-24-2018, 11:55 AM	#5
blake-b Drives: 2009 ZR1 Join Date: May 2010 Location: KCMO Posts: 3,205	That is normal behavior.

07-25-2018, 09:55 AM	#8
gutterball Drives: 2014 1LS M6 Supercharged Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Britain, Ct Posts: 937 View My Garage	This is normal operation, when the system sees your Batt is charged, it shuts off, when this happens your just reading your Batt. Voltage. If your Batt starts to get low, alternater kicks in, now your reading your Alternater Voltage.

07-25-2018, 10:12 AM	#9
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,033 View My Garage	The voltage you see on the gauge is the charging voltage and it varies as required to keep the battery charged but not overcharged. When the charging voltage stays high all the time, your battery is getting old. 2 years is not old, unless you're abusing it, like for example storing the car for the winter without a battery tender.