What should the Voltageon the dash Read ???

[Guest]

Hi , I have a 1987 944S and the volt meter on the dash reads just below 13 whilst the car is running but if you put the lights on a heated rear screen etc , it goes down to 12. Should this be higher more like 14 when the engine is running normally? as the battery does not seem to turn the car over very quickly and it seems to be getting worse..... I fear my alternator may be on the way out !!!

 

[ianreeves]

Mine reads just below 12v when not running and 14v with the engine running. Makes no odds if lights etc are on.

My alternator was new last year.

 

[NeilW]

James, the dashboard meter is notoriously unreliable, better to take readings at the battery before assuming problems. Mine is usually under 12V without engine running and anywhere between 12.5 and 14V running. The actual voltage at the battery with the car running is usually somewhere around 14-14.2V.

Good luck.

 

[dlknight]

ORIGINAL: JSB944S

Hi , I have a 1987 944S and the volt meter on the dash reads just below 13 whilst the car is running but if you put the lights on a heated rear screen etc , it goes down to 12. Should this be higher more like 14 when the engine is running normally? as the battery does not seem to turn the car over very quickly and it seems to be getting worse..... I fear my alternator may be on the way out !!!

Hi James,

Welcome to the forum, mine reads much the same as yours and I get a similar reading with the digital voltmeter at the battery terminals. I have a second-hand turbo alternator to fit when I have a free weekend and hope that it will rectify my problem. There was a few on ebay, brand new alternator is £££.

Regards

Dave K.

 

[rob944s]

Hello James your car is probably like most 944 porsche owners on the forum," definatly not wired up right", ps dont tell john simms you got a red one he wont approve, but paul will back you up" he likes red". oh sorry back to your voltage thing are you sure you have a good earth to the car poor charging and slow turning starter can be attribued to this, mate a little word of advice allways start with the simple stuff first as it will save you a fortune, didnt help me but its still good advice............good luck!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your advice everyone , I'll check at the battery and check the earth, and Red is the best colour for any 80's sports car !!!!!!!!!! []

 

[Jonny B]

ive run my 44s throughout winter and the dial never has gone above 12.5 when running and when the lights are on etc on it has gone down to 11, but it always starts healthily, ive also left it for over a week several times and it never fails,

tis genious butting an annoying looking reading which i will look into over summer, basically because i like things to be bob on, im not too keen on the idea of,'' if it aint broke dont fix it''
jb

 

[Guest]

Well I put a volt meter across the battery this morning whilst it was idleing , the reading on the Volt meter was 13.8 which is fine , yet the dash gauge was showing around 12.5, i can live with an underreading guage !! and I agree , if it ain't broke don't fix it . [] My car has always started first time everytime. I use it everyday and I have done for the past year have done over 10K miles in that time. Thanks for your advice guys !!!