alternator issue

[07burban88]

pretty sure my alternator fixing to leave the chat. I drove it yesterday and the volt gauge at redlight was at the line between 9 and 14 so like 11 volts. while driving, it never went back to 14. let it sit for a few hours at home, drove later at night stayed at 14. I'm looking at the Remey 160amp for 213 on Rock auto. 160 amp should be good right? mine has the 145 amper on it currently. and yes, the battery is new. back in October. ac delco battery

 

[SpareParts]

That's normal.

 

[Fless]

Look up RVC (Regulated Voltage Control).

 

[mikez71]

As others are saying, the RVC system charges the battery as needed...
Supposedly tends to keep the battery charged to ~80% from what I've heard? (For battery longevity?)
Below is from '08 wiring digrams, no guarantee '07 is identical...

If eventually you do need an alternator, the 165A will drop right in, and later model 220A alts also drop right in.

You would think with GM's excuse for buffering the coolant temp gauge, they would buffer the voltage gauge also?

I'm not a fan of inaccurate gauges. If someone is concerned with a few degrees of temp change, they don't know how the engine works..
With dummy gauges, they will never learn! GM could have printed a one line explanation in the manual instead of messing with gauge accuracy.
I know I'm not their target audience. But their way is against science, and the greater good.. IMHO!
<end rant!>

 

[Doubeleive]

next time you see it down real low just turn some stuff on headlights, defroster, seat heater or cooler, etc
that should make it switch modes within a few minutes, if that does not work then there could be a problem. the type of problem really depends and takes a bit of investigating.
already been down this road.
The RVC modes also really depend on how you drive. for me it almost never goes into "economy" mode

 

[07burban88]

that's what was throwing me off cause it was day time and only had ac on and it was round 11 and never really went up to full 14 but at night with the headlights on, it never moved from 14, I may order one just to keep in my inventory cause my luck, ill brake down on a holiday, after 6pm when everyone is closed lol

 

[Doubeleive]

that's what was throwing me off cause it was day time and only had ac on and it was round 11 and never really went up to full 14 but at night with the headlights on, it never moved from 14, I may order one just to keep in my inventory cause my luck, ill brake down on a holiday, after 6pm when everyone is closed lol

that's what happens to me, usually on a weekend when the parts places are closed, doesn't necessarily have to be vehicle related just general crap that happens to me.