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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 32
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Overcharging?
When my battery recently died (prematurely) I noticed that it was being charged with 17v. I assumed it was a bad voltage regulator and replaced it. Now it reads 16v at the battery cables. Is that OK? Am I ruining another battery? Is the alternator faulty (rather than just the regulator)?
Thanks
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1985 (early) 944 |
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11-08-2006, 03:18 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,554
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is your volt meter calibrated?
have you tried another one?
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Kyle 2008 Mini Cooper // '83 Porsche 944 // '01 Mazda Protege [sold] // "Never break more than you fix!" - SoCal Driver |
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11-08-2006, 03:31 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,327
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16v is too high. should be mid 13's to lo 14's at operating temp.
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87 951, K27/6, Almond Beige, 17" Turbotwist 87 944S, alpine white, 5sp died a violent death 84 944, silver/brown, auto, gone but not forgotten "may the force be with you" |
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11-08-2006, 06:02 PM
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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14.4 if i remember right.
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Kyle 2008 Mini Cooper // '83 Porsche 944 // '01 Mazda Protege [sold] // "Never break more than you fix!" - SoCal Driver |
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11-08-2006, 06:28 PM
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As mentioned approximately 14V is correct. The alternator continues to charge the battery until the regulator tells it not to charge any more. The regulator is still at fault and you are going to burn up another battery if you don't fix it. Check all grounds and electrical connections on the back of the alternator and the starter solenoid as well as the battery cables themselves. The regulator may not be getting an accurate reading of the battery voltage and therefore not shutting down the charging soon enough because of a bad wire connection.
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Tom 1990 944S2 Cabriolet 2002 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 2003 Maroon Ford F350 dually |
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11-08-2006, 10:42 PM
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Politically Incorrect
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hoover, Alabama
Posts: 1,495
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If you are using an inexpensive volt meter, it will read higher voltage than actual if the volt meter battery is low. Usually you will have a small battery symbol on the meter screen when the volt meter battery is low. AMHIK
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Edek '87 924S '91 535i |
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11-09-2006, 08:55 AM
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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are you using a digital or analog meter?
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Kyle 2008 Mini Cooper // '83 Porsche 944 // '01 Mazda Protege [sold] // "Never break more than you fix!" - SoCal Driver |
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11-09-2006, 09:23 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 32
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Thanks guys
You guys are on it! I had been verifying the voltage reading with both a digital and my old analog meter and they both read 15-16 volts. They also both had bad batteries. Replaced them (much cheaper than a new alternator) and the battery shows 14 volts while running.
Thanks
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1985 (early) 944 |
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11-09-2006, 01:23 PM
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