Click Banner for Details on this Saabnet.com Classified
The banner above is an advertisment - if it asks you to download software, please ignore.
Site News - 7/1: Members: Log In to See Fewer Ads! | 5/28: SAAB Evolutions/TSN T-Shirts $14
[General | Members | C900 | 9000 | NG900 & OG93 | 93 | 95 | NG95 | 99 | Sonett | Vintage Models | Clubs | Other Cars | FAQs | Gifts | Member Photo Galleries | Member Directory | Classifieds | Manuals | *Buddy Registry | *Mileage Registry | Polls | What's New | Raffle | Photo of the Month | Sponsors]

9000 Bulletin Board
1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest]
(Search Author's Posts: e.g. Keyword:username)*Members Only

[Main 9000 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ | Prev by Date | Post Followup ] Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Re: Battery Voltage
Like This Post: - Subscribe to Daily Digest for this Bulletin Board
Posted by Ari [Email] (#2847) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Ari) on Mon, 19 Sep 2005 12:38:06 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: Battery Voltage, Bill Long, Sun, 18 Sep 2005 19:53:35
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup

When you first start the car, the EDU grabs a voltage as the engine is cranking. This is supposed to give an indication of the battery and charging system health. It is useful, but the information has to be used carefully.

First, as PJ says, what is the voltage when the engine is running? It should range from a low of around 12.6 volts (hot day, idling, lots of accessories) up to as much as 14 to 14.5 volts (highways speeds, cold day/engine, not many electrical loads). Basically, as long as the voltage is running in the 13.x range when the car is above idle, the alternator is providing enough voltage to charge the battery.

As to that cranking voltage the EDU grabs at start-up, it all depends on the car. I ignore the 10 volt warning in the manual. I've had a few 9000s. I've had some where 9.8 meant the battery was on its last legs. I've had others where a new battery read 8.2, and only when it dropped below 8.0 did it mean the battery was tired.

That is usually a car-to-car variation. Since I assume this is only one car you're talking about, it is unusual that the voltage would be reading low with a new battery. Three things come to mind - first, your charging voltage is low. Put a voltmeter on the battery, and start the car. With the AC off, rev the engine to around 1500 rpm - if you aren't reading at least 13 volts, I'd change the voltage regulator in the alternator.

Second- battery clamps / cables. Make sure the clamps make good connection - pull them off, and clean the inside mating surfaces. Peek into the battery cables - do you see a whitish or greenish powder? That's the sign of corrosion that causes voltage drops. It isn't out of the question to replace battery cables in a 10 year old car.

Third - the battery is bad. Yes, sometimes brand new parts are bad. Here's a simple test - how fast does the engine crank? Does it spin fast, or is it barely turning over? It's highly unlikely that a near dead battery will spin an engine fast.

posted by 192.249....
Posts in this Thread:
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
Post a Followup

No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.

Name: Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
E-Mail: (Optional)
Re-Enter E-Mail: (Confidential & Secure - Not revealed to other users!)
Note: Please check your spam folder for BB responses.

Subject:

Posting rules are simple - No for sale/wanted ads may be posted here - use the site classifieds.
You may not cross-post your message to multiple BBs.
Not permitted: political/religious topics and being disrespectful (personal attacks, insults, etc...).
 Site Members do not see any red text, inline ad links, bottom of page anchor ads, box ads, or anti-spam check.

Message: (please no for sale/wanted classifieds - post those in the Saabnet.com Classifieds)
Links are now automatically made active, no need for any special code (or use the Option Link field below) - don't put links in () or end with a '.'
To add inline images to your post, use [img]http://www.domain.com/img.jpg[endimg] (or use the Optional Image Link field below).

Links are now automatically made active, no need for any special code (or use the Option Link field below) - don't put links in () or end with a '.'
To add inline images to your post above, use [img]http://www.domain.com/img.jpg[endimg] (or use the Optional Image Link field below).
Optional Link: (e.g. http://www.saabnet.com/)
Link Title: (Optional)
Optional Photo/Image Link: (e.g. http://www.saabnet.com/img.jpg)
Photo/Image to Upload: (Please be patient while file uploads)



StateOfNine.com
SaabClub.com
Jak Stoll Performance
M Car Covers
Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2024 - The Saab Network - saabnet.com.
For usage guidelines, see the Mission & Privacy Notice.
[Contact | Site Map | Saabnet.com on Facebook | Saabnet.com on Twitter | Shop Amazon via TSN | Site Donations]

Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)
This is a moderated bulletin board - Posting is a privilege, not a right. Unsolicited commercial postings are not allowed (no spam). Please, no For Sale or Wanted postings, SERIOUSLY. Classifieds are to be listed in The Saab Network Classifieds pages. This is a problem solving forum for over 250,000 Saab owners, so expect to see problems discussed here even though our cars are generally very reliable. This is not an anything goes type of forum. Saabnet.com has been a moderated forum since 1988. For usage guidelines, see the Saabnet.com Mission and Purpose Page. Please remember that you are not anonymous. Site Contact | Site Donations | Other Sites by SP - Poverty2Prosperity.org | Run Club Menlo Park | ScreenBot


Site Members do not see red text instructions, bottom of the page anchor ads, or box ads.
Click here to see all the Site Membership Benefits!