my voltage while the car is on is just above 12 sometimes even below. its been like this for who knows how long but i've noticed it recently. some times at start up it is at 13.5 but i notice while i'm driving after a while the voltage drops to anywhere between 12.5 or below 12. i switched batteries cause my other one died. could it be that my alternator is going. the car seems to charge sometimes. any clues

 

If you're not adding additional electrical load when the voltage is dropping, then yeah, a regulator problem fits. You can pull it and have it tested at any auto parts store.

 

I get the same thing

Start out at 14.0 volts then after it warms up it goes to 13.5 Volts.

I think electrical componets have more resistance when hot.

It would be nice to have an alternator that kept voltage steady.

 

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Yeah, in the manual it shows a graph and how the engine bay temp will make the voltage show lower when Hot vs when it was stone cold. The alternator is what I'm talking about.

This is not the thread owners problem though. Take 88's advice and have a shop look at the alternator. Could be bad alternator brushes/regulator. OR how about a slipping belt? Or loose connection on the large output wire of the alternator? Or????