Correct battery voltage?

I fitted a new Exide battery to my 98 A6 2.5 TDI in March (correct spec BTW).

The problem is that before I start the engine in the morning the voltmeter shows the voltage as just over 10v. Once the car is started (a struggle sometimes in cold weather) the voltmeter shows about 13v. If I stop the engine and go back after an hour or so the voltage shows over 12v.

My feeling is that the battery is not holding the charge as it should, but on both occasions that I have taken the battery back to the shop I bought it at, it tests OK (well it would as I have just driven there). The alternator test shows it is charging OK.

I would appreciate some feedback on what batteries should show on the voltmeter before starting, after being left overnight.

TIA

Reply to
Fred
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With the engine off, the battery should read at 12 to 12.5 volts. With the engine running, it should read between 13.75 and 14.25 volts. Based on your description, it sounds like you have a bad battery.

Cheers,

C
Reply to
Chris Mauritz

Before you change the battery, you may check to see if you have a short and a drain on the battery. This becomes more obvious after an overnight rest.

With engine shutdown check the current used; if it's excessive (not sure how much, but say over 1 amp; ask a tech. on this), then start taking electric fuses out until you find the culprit circuit and go from there.

Cheers,

Tony

Reply to
Tony

If there's an amp of current being drawn from the battery when the car is supposedly totally "off", there's something wrong.

With the car turned off, no lights on, no doors open, etc - I mean good and truly "off", the only devices that should be drawing any power are the clock, the "memory" logic within the audio system head, and the alarm system. Between those the current should be well under 100 milliamps.

And a 12v battery reading 10v at rest is likely fatally damaged if not just plain dead...

/daytripper '00 s4 6spd

Reply to
daytripper

Yes 10 volts does not sound too positive. lol You need to make sure that the connections are very clean and tight at the battery, grounding cables from the battery, and also at the alternator. Sometimes if the connections are not clean and tight you will lose voltage. You can check this with your handheld voltmeter. Start testing voltage at the battery terminals, then check the battery clamps, then hold the positive lead from the voltmeter on the battery and touch the negative lead to the body of the car. Compare results! If they are the same, you can test them with the engine running. Then do the same type of test with the alternator, but the engine has to be running. It is a little harder with your vehicle, but it is doable if you make the connections BEFORE running engine. You are looking for a drop in voltage which might mean too much resistance (not good). Then clean any areas where you note this drop. This is all assuming that the battery is good. I just gained an extra volt when I cleaned the grounding spots on my alternator. Hey that is like free power!!

Others have told you to check for a drain too. That should be done first!

Good luck and let us know!

later, dave Reminder........ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes. Frieda Norris

Reply to
dave

many thanks for all your suggestions guys - much appreciated !

Reply to
Fred

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