Is my charging system working right?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

aces-n-eights

Member
Joined
May 18, 2016
Posts
81
Reaction score
47
Location
Alaska
2006 Tahoe, 200k miles.

I'm a little over halfway thru a a long road trip - Alaska to Michigan, about 4500 miles. I look at the voltmeter and most of the time it's a needle width above the "14" - this is the normal reading. Several times a day i'll notice the meter is indicating about 2 needle widths below the "14", then after an hour or so it's back up to normal.

No difference in electrical load that i can determine.

Is this normal operation? Is my alternator trying to tell me something? Will it go another 2000 miles to my destination?
 

HiHoeSilver

Away!
Joined
Feb 28, 2017
Posts
10,919
Reaction score
14,571
Location
Chicago
2006 Tahoe, 200k miles.

I'm a little over halfway thru a a long road trip - Alaska to Michigan, about 4500 miles. I look at the voltmeter and most of the time it's a needle width above the "14" - this is the normal reading. Several times a day i'll notice the meter is indicating about 2 needle widths below the "14", then after an hour or so it's back up to normal.

No difference in electrical load that i can determine.

Is this normal operation? Is my alternator trying to tell me something? Will it go another 2000 miles to my destination?

Normal. The charging system is controlled by the computer based on a few different factors like battery condition, demand, etc.
 
OP
OP
A

aces-n-eights

Member
Joined
May 18, 2016
Posts
81
Reaction score
47
Location
Alaska
Thanks HHS! I'm sure it's been that way forever and i just noticed it. Lots of time to think about stuff on a long road trip.
 

Tonyrodz

Resident Resident
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Posts
30,958
Reaction score
45,061
Location
Central Jersey
2006 Tahoe, 200k miles.

I'm a little over halfway thru a a long road trip - Alaska to Michigan, about 4500 miles. I look at the voltmeter and most of the time it's a needle width above the "14" - this is the normal reading. Several times a day i'll notice the meter is indicating about 2 needle widths below the "14", then after an hour or so it's back up to normal.

No difference in electrical load that i can determine.

Is this normal operation? Is my alternator trying to tell me something? Will it go another 2000 miles to my destination?
Lucky devil. I love road trips.
 

Tonyrodz

Resident Resident
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Posts
30,958
Reaction score
45,061
Location
Central Jersey
Yeah, we have done the Alaska Highway 8-9 times over the past 11 years. It's a great trip... lots of wildlife, beautiful scenery. Do it sometime - you won't regret it!
I would love to, if I could. Few yrs ago me and a friend drove from Nj to LA(Calif)to drop off 2 Lambos--they were trailered. It was an awesome trip. I'd love to do it again.Screenshot_20180808-124843_Photos.jpg Screenshot_20180808-124854_Photos.jpg
 

dmad1

Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2018
Posts
80
Reaction score
27
My '12 did the same thing. Dealer said it was normal. I was skeptic but the battery never ran down. My '17 does the same.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
128,781
Posts
1,805,301
Members
91,760
Latest member
MyCleftNut

Latest posts

Top