Voltmeter fluctuates

[TimG]

The voltmeter readings on my May 16 car fluctuate so much as to be useless. Before starting it can read 11.5V or 13V even with a fully charged battery. On the road it can fluctuate 13.5 to 14.5 holding steady then rising or falling with no revs change. With an external meter or battery charger it appears voltage is OK.
When I had second service I asked them to check the battery & charging & no faults reported. They reckoned the reason the puddle lights did not always come on was a low battery charge. I've noticed that the Sync screen does not come on before I start the car if battery is not fully charged.

Sponsored

 

[Manders Mustang]

You got a dash or anything setup on a live wire constantly?

 

[TimG]

You got a dash or anything setup on a live wire constantly?

No extra electrical equipment other than Car Genie in OBD

 

[Big_G]

The stock Motorcraft battery is garbage, it will eventually die. Mine lasted 12 months before starting to misbehave, i perservered with it until nearly 2 years were up then it had to go because of a dead cell.

I've just px'd my old car and told the dealer i want my new battery moving into the new car, and they can put the crap ford one back in the other car.

 

[Myweepony]

The stock Motorcraft battery is garbage, it will eventually die. Mine lasted 12 months before starting to misbehave, i perservered with it until nearly 2 years were up then it had to go because of a dead cell.

I've just px'd my old car and told the dealer i want my new battery moving into the new car, and they can put the crap ford one back in the other car.

I've always thought it was a bit on the small side. Our friends across the pond seem to have a fair amount of trouble with them too.

Can you remember what you replaced it with?

Cheers

Phil

 

[Big_G]

I've always thought it was a bit on the small side. Our friends across the pond seem to have a fair amount of trouble with them too.

Can you remember what you replaced it with?

Cheers

Phil

Yeah i have a friend who's owned motorspares store for eternity, he recommended a Yuasa battery and supplied me with a YBX5027 which is 620A

 

[SurfOrFight]

The voltmeter readings on my May 16 car fluctuate so much as to be useless. Before starting it can read 11.5V or 13V even with a fully charged battery. On the road it can fluctuate 13.5 to 14.5 holding steady then rising or falling with no revs change. With an external meter or battery charger it appears voltage is OK.
When I had second service I asked them to check the battery & charging & no faults reported. They reckoned the reason the puddle lights did not always come on was a low battery charge. I've noticed that the Sync screen does not come on before I start the car if battery is not fully charged.

The voltmeter will be working fine; it all depends on the load. There will be a load on the battery when just turning the systems on so will be less than a fully charged battery (12.6v) the more load the lower the voltage shown. When engine runs it will charge at around 14.6 v but again this will drop when systems are running e.g radio, sat nav, air con, running lights etc.

Sponsored