Battery Voltage - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Adam Sprague · 05-10-2017, 08:05 AM

On a recent trip, I scrolled thru the various screens on my car. When I got to the voltage screen, it showed 12.4 volts when the car was running. I had been driving for awhile. The battery is 4 yrs old. Should I replace that battery. It hasn't been that low since I owned the car. I bought it in 2014 and the car is a 2013.

Rock-It Man · 05-10-2017, 09:38 AM

The voltage varies while you are driving. This is discussed in the owner's manual.

The displayed voltage is the voltage being applied to the battery. When the battery is charging and/or when a lot of accessories are running, the charging voltage is high. When the battery is fully charged, the voltage is lower.

In my experience, the voltage drops when you drive a long time. I would be more concerned if the voltage never dropped, even on long trips. When that happens, that's the sign of an old battery.

Adam Sprague · 05-10-2017, 10:51 AM

My only concern is the radio quit working when the voltage went to 12.5 Volts. When I got home, I shut off the car. Waited 30-45 seconds, started the car and the voltage went up to 14.5 or so and the radio started to work. Should I put a new battery in it anyway. Guess it couldn't hurt.

wakespeak · 05-10-2017, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Sprague

My only concern is the radio quit working when the voltage went to 12.5 Volts. When I got home, I shut off the car. Waited 30-45 seconds, started the car and the voltage went up to 14.5 or so and the radio started to work. Should I put a new battery in it anyway. Guess it couldn't hurt.

Most batteries last 3-5 years. You could have it tested. The GM alternators do "turn off" if the battery is sensed at full charge.

Adam Sprague · 05-10-2017, 01:56 PM

I am going to take it to Chevy. If I do change the battery, I want an OE battery. I am concerned about the radio shutting off.

Rock-It Man · 05-10-2017, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Sprague

My only concern is the radio quit working when the voltage went to 12.5 Volts. When I got home, I shut off the car. Waited 30-45 seconds, started the car and the voltage went up to 14.5 or so and the radio started to work. Should I put a new battery in it anyway. Guess it couldn't hurt.

Your car will turn off accessories if voltage gets too low, but that's more like 11.5 volts.

Not sure what your problem is, but a competent dealer can test your battery AND charging system.

Lugging the battery alone to Auto Zone won't tell you much.

Adam Sprague · 05-10-2017, 05:35 PM

Thanks everyone for the great info.

JD555 · 05-11-2017, 07:42 AM

When I do a long trip it will go to 12.4v. After started it will see 14.8v and then after awhile it will go back to 12.4 when fully charged. After a week of not driving it will sit at 15.0 for a long while and it can take few hours of driving to get it to go down to 12.4 again. Its normal.

Adam Sprague · 05-11-2017, 07:48 AM

But why did the radio quit working. So the alternator doesn't put out a constant 14 volts like my Chevy truck? Interesting.

GVA 45TH 2SS · 05-11-2017, 05:39 PM

Theres alot to the charging cycle of or cars.
Heres some info I have on Drive
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz3...ew?usp=sharing

Adam Sprague · 05-12-2017, 04:50 PM

This was great information. I hope everybody reads this. Took the car in anyway just to have it checked out. I'm putting a new battery in the car anyway. Probably didn't need to but I will feel much better.

Adam Sprague · 05-15-2017, 11:34 AM

Took the car to the Chevrolet Dealer in Aransas Pass, Tx. They checked out everything and the battery was bad under load. So new battery and I am back in service. Thanks to everyone who gave me great information on the forum.

Adam Sprague · 05-20-2017, 08:22 AM

New battery and the voltage went back down to 12.5 and the radio cut off. Now what do I do. I'm changing the alternator after hooking up a volt meter to the battery and watched the voltage go from 14.6 volts down to 12.5 volts in a matter of 45 seconds. I believe it is not suppose to do that.
GVA 45TH 2SS, thank you for the info.

Adam Sprague · 05-31-2017, 11:15 AM

I guess I am just hard headed. JD555 you are correct about the voltage. It seems I have a problem with the radio itself. I am just use to the voltage on my truck always being 14 volts and figured it would be the same. New cars, new systems. Thanks for all the answers on here.

05-10-2017, 08:05 AM	#1
Adam Sprague GrumpyAdam Drives: 2013 Camaro LS Join Date: May 2017 Location: Rockport, Tx Posts: 22 View My Garage	Battery Voltage On a recent trip, I scrolled thru the various screens on my car. When I got to the voltage screen, it showed 12.4 volts when the car was running. I had been driving for awhile. The battery is 4 yrs old. Should I replace that battery. It hasn't been that low since I owned the car. I bought it in 2014 and the car is a 2013.

05-11-2017, 07:48 AM	#9
Adam Sprague GrumpyAdam Drives: 2013 Camaro LS Join Date: May 2017 Location: Rockport, Tx Posts: 22 View My Garage	But why did the radio quit working. So the alternator doesn't put out a constant 14 volts like my Chevy truck? Interesting. Last edited by Adam Sprague; 05-11-2017 at 08:06 AM.

05-20-2017, 08:22 AM	#13
Adam Sprague GrumpyAdam Drives: 2013 Camaro LS Join Date: May 2017 Location: Rockport, Tx Posts: 22 View My Garage	New battery and the voltage went back down to 12.5 and the radio cut off. Now what do I do. I'm changing the alternator after hooking up a volt meter to the battery and watched the voltage go from 14.6 volts down to 12.5 volts in a matter of 45 seconds. I believe it is not suppose to do that. GVA 45TH 2SS, thank you for the info. Last edited by Adam Sprague; 05-31-2017 at 11:15 AM.

05-10-2017, 09:38 AM	#2
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 varies while you are driving. This is discussed in the owner's manual. The displayed voltage is the voltage being applied to the battery. When the battery is charging and/or when a lot of accessories are running, the charging voltage is high. When the battery is fully charged, the voltage is lower. In my experience, the voltage drops when you drive a long time. I would be more concerned if the voltage never dropped, even on long trips. When that happens, that's the sign of an old battery.

05-10-2017, 10:51 AM	#3
Adam Sprague GrumpyAdam Drives: 2013 Camaro LS Join Date: May 2017 Location: Rockport, Tx Posts: 22 View My Garage	My only concern is the radio quit working when the voltage went to 12.5 Volts. When I got home, I shut off the car. Waited 30-45 seconds, started the car and the voltage went up to 14.5 or so and the radio started to work. Should I put a new battery in it anyway. Guess it couldn't hurt.

05-10-2017, 01:56 PM	#5
Adam Sprague GrumpyAdam Drives: 2013 Camaro LS Join Date: May 2017 Location: Rockport, Tx Posts: 22 View My Garage	I am going to take it to Chevy. If I do change the battery, I want an OE battery. I am concerned about the radio shutting off.

05-10-2017, 05:35 PM	#7
Adam Sprague GrumpyAdam Drives: 2013 Camaro LS Join Date: May 2017 Location: Rockport, Tx Posts: 22 View My Garage	Thanks everyone for the great info.

05-11-2017, 07:42 AM	#8
JD555 Drives: 2014 2SS RS, 6 sp man Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Marlton, NJ Posts: 461	When I do a long trip it will go to 12.4v. After started it will see 14.8v and then after awhile it will go back to 12.4 when fully charged. After a week of not driving it will sit at 15.0 for a long while and it can take few hours of driving to get it to go down to 12.4 again. Its normal.

05-11-2017, 05:39 PM	#10
GVA 45TH 2SS KNGTFALL Drives: 2012 2SS 45th edition Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: (Near) Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,533	Theres alot to the charging cycle of or cars. Heres some info I have on Drive https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz3...ew?usp=sharing

05-12-2017, 04:50 PM	#11
Adam Sprague GrumpyAdam Drives: 2013 Camaro LS Join Date: May 2017 Location: Rockport, Tx Posts: 22 View My Garage	This was great information. I hope everybody reads this. Took the car in anyway just to have it checked out. I'm putting a new battery in the car anyway. Probably didn't need to but I will feel much better.

05-15-2017, 11:34 AM	#12
Adam Sprague GrumpyAdam Drives: 2013 Camaro LS Join Date: May 2017 Location: Rockport, Tx Posts: 22 View My Garage	Took the car to the Chevrolet Dealer in Aransas Pass, Tx. They checked out everything and the battery was bad under load. So new battery and I am back in service. Thanks to everyone who gave me great information on the forum.

05-31-2017, 11:15 AM	#14
Adam Sprague GrumpyAdam Drives: 2013 Camaro LS Join Date: May 2017 Location: Rockport, Tx Posts: 22 View My Garage	I guess I am just hard headed. JD555 you are correct about the voltage. It seems I have a problem with the radio itself. I am just use to the voltage on my truck always being 14 volts and figured it would be the same. New cars, new systems. Thanks for all the answers on here.