what does your batt gage read in access position

sickwilly · Oct 2, 2017

I could have sworn my battery gage has always been in the middle when the key is in the accessory position. Yesterday i noticed that its almost to the bottom mark. My battery reads 12.6 volts, i thought good batteries read over 13 or 14v.
These two things made me think i had a bad battery, am i losin it or what?
Would appreciate it if someone would double chk. ITs an 03 xlt 3.0.

I also checked a new battery in the store, it reads 12.7v, maybe im nuts :icon_confused:

adsm08 · Oct 2, 2017

A standard car battery has 6 cells with 2.1V each, give or take a little. A static battery should read approx 12.6V. 13-14V is what a good ALTERNATOR should put out.

As for your battery gauge, many things could be wrong. Mine, when I still had one, read close to the middle all the time, but had a slight drop if I would tap the brakes with the engine off.

wildbill23c · Oct 2, 2017

If your vehicle isn't running your voltage should be around 12.x volts. Totally normal. If its still at that voltage with the vehicle running then you have a problem.

sickwilly · Oct 4, 2017

OK thanks, i just thought batteries read a little higher than that. The gage reads normal ( in the middle) when running, guess i wont worry about it for now. I was just trying to get ahead of a potential problem.

91stranger · Oct 28, 2017

yep 12.1-12.8 is a good stable battery with no loads. engine running you should easily get 13.1 volts. if you don't even get to 13.0 with the engine running then you alternator is failing. and when those fail they go at once. had it happen to me a few times. be driving just fine then the headlights get dimmer, inside lights get dimmer, loss of power. luckily I was always close enough home to get by on jumping the battery every mile or so to get by. battery voltage should be something everybody should know. a volt meter will be you best friend and every guy should have more than one. I probably have 8. I keep one in my truck tool box just for reasons like that. they are normally free at harbor freight. they are cheap but they will tell you what you need to know in a pinch.

RonD · Oct 28, 2017

Battery gauge is often hooked up to Dash power, i.e. the power for the other gauges
ACC position may not power the dash gauges, no reason to, so battery gauge will not have power either.

Just depends on how it is wired in.

cbxer55 · Oct 29, 2017

With a new battery in mine, it reads around the halfway mark all the time, when running. Haven't paid any attention to it when I just turn the key on.

I have a digital gauge that plugs into one of the cig. outlets, that reads voltage. When off, it reads just slightly over 12 volts, usually 12.3 or 4. When running, it typically always runs around 13.7 or 8. When first plugged in right after starting, it will read 14.0 or 1. But then drops to the 13.7 or 8, which it maintains all the time, even with lights on.

I use the digital gauge because it tells you very quickly when something goes wrong. Was out driving one day, and it started dropping, fast. Got down into the 11's when I pulled into a Sears parking lot. Battery died, put a new one in, and it went right back to normal 13.7 or 8.

Was coming home from Thunder Valley (drag strip) in my Lightning, in 2014, same plug-in gauge. Started dropping, and it was night, so the lights started dimming. Barely got the truck home and in the garage, when it was headed down into the 10's. Put new battery in next day, and when started, it started dropping right away. Put in new alternator, and all was, and still is, well. Kept the battery, even though it wasn't the problem, because it was the original Ford battery from 2004.

what does your batt gage read in access position

sickwilly

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adsm08

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wildbill23c

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sickwilly

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91stranger

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RonD

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cbxer55

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