My votage is kinda weird, goes from 11.9 when in reverse, 12 - 12.3 while idle, 12.5 - maye 13.2 while driving.

Got a 220amp alt put in few months bak. Had a 20 ft 0awg on it to the bat (dumb), with no extra grounds. Last week I cut the wire for the power and made the rest another ground to my battery (yellow top). I read about the big three thing and it seems like all i didnt do was the engine block.

From reading everyones post, i'm bleeiveing my volatage should be much higher...is the big three what i need, or is something else sturring up?

 

bump........

 

I'd add some grounds and see what happens to the voltage, if it doesn't go up then get the alternator load tested at autozone.

 

You may have fried your voltage regulator if you have bad grounds, or had a bad battery (make sure not to ever discharge the Yellow Top fully or it will never hold a full charge, and may develop voltage fluctuations. It happened to me twice, now I run Interstate Batteries again.).

Get the alternator checked after you reground if you still have problems.

 

Do the big three regardless, also check water level in battery, charge over night, test specific gravity, than load test the battery. (I've never owned an optima yellow, are they maintenance free? If so ignore the first and third step) with load testing the alty as well. Now, to my main question: 220 amp alternator 'eh? Where did you get it and how much did it cost?

Also, I searched your post's after reading your thread in the feedback forum. Feel free to post any questions you need answered in the newbie thread or pm directly, myself and a few other very knowledgable .org members try to stay on top of that thread, I rarely have time to browse the 4th gen forum anymore, by the time I reply to pm's and search for threads I'm already involved I have to go.

 

Good lookin' guys. Ima have the loaded tested today of the alt, i hope for sure nothing is wrong with it. KRRZ, i bought from Iraggi fo $299.00.

 

So I had the altinator test ran. The battery was at 12.45 ish
Altinator was running 13.63+

I looked on my HU to see what it was reading, and at the same time it read 12.6-12.8volts...im guessing its off a lil bit...

Thinking...i never paid attention to my RPM gauge until it started acting weird...i think im just parinoid now