93 cherokee sport i6 4L

morosemofer · #1 05-07-2008, 08:10 PM

i have a new issue with my jeep. as of about a week ago my battery gauge has been telling me that i am only running ten volts. when it is idling i put my multimeter on the battery and it read almost 14volts. i recently put a new alternator on and thought that maybe it was my belt was a little loose. i have tightened the tensoin bolt and it still didnt change the gauge. anyone who can shed some light on this situation please do so.

NIX · #2 05-08-2008, 12:47 PM

Probably some resistance in the wire or connector to the gauge or a bad gauge. I wouldn't give it much attention. If it starts to start badly, then you have a problem. Measuring at the battery was the right thing to do.

heavyequipment · #3 05-10-2008, 06:57 PM

What Nix says, or a bad instrument panel ground. Any other odd gauge readings? Do the panel lights work normally?

xjy173 · #4 05-12-2008, 08:49 PM

I would check the grounding strap that goes from the firewall to the engine block. The strap may be corroded or partially broken. Your dash gauge is probably indicating the voltage to all the dashboard devices. Since your battery and alternator are good, as evidenced by the 14 volt reading at the battery, then it is either a bad ground situation or a defective gauge. I'd bet it's a bad ground.

HTH Good Luck!!

BFA · #5 08-18-2008, 08:46 AM

My alternator seems to read a lower voltage after it's been driven around beforehand.

Key thing to look for is when it's reading low, check to see if your turn signal seems slower than usual. That happened to me, especially at night with the lights on (head and fog) and the A/C blasting. I think also blasting the stereo with a sub doesn't help the situation as well.