How much voltage is too much?
 

Normal running I read anywhere from 14.5 to 15 volts. Driving home today I noticed that it was reading 15.4 to 15.7. Could my voltage regulator be going bad?:confused:

Voltage will vary with tempature, mine is a lot higher when it's cold outside. Yours doesn't sound out of specs.

That would make sense, it is A LOT colder in the Northeast this week than it has been all year so far. Thanks

rlyons-why is that? I have noticed mine higher than normal since Nov. but added some fog lights and thought as long as it doesn't jump over 16.

Funny, I noticed my 93' was irregularly high last I drove it. I have to double check, but I think mine was going over 16?

16 VOLTS!?! I laugh at 16 volts! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!


When my voltage regulator went out it pegged the ammeter at 1400 RPM; at 2800 RPM I was probably pushing 40 volts. :eek:


Don't know of any problems it caused other than burn out $50 worth of headlights... All my other lights somehow managed to live...

My gauge is pegged almost all of the time. When the grid is on, it drops a bit, but is still abnormally high. I don't know what the problem is. I figured it was a common problem, maybe not.

-Steve

When mine went bad the first time, I was pushing 18-19 volts. I could smell the battery frying!:o

Yeah, I think I'd try to stop short of lettin' the smoke out of the battery - that's just a wee bit much. [laugh]

Most aftermarket voltage regulators are preset to 14.7 volts. The normal tolerance was +- 2 volts with just enough load applied to kick the regulator on. This applied to both internal and external regulators regardless of manufacturer or application.

Because batteries require more voltage to take a charge when they are cold. Most voltage regulators have a thermistor built in that adjusts for this. The later trucks have this feature built into the PCM.

How much voltage is too much?
 

On the way back from New Jersey, my voltmeter pegged at 18, roasted the battery and damaged the computer. About $600 later it's fixed.

Check the regulator. :)