Cold battery voltage? - 1.9CDTi 16v

[tugger434]

12.1 when ignition on 11.6 when cranking over mine drops to 9.5/6,
been having a few probs lately with starting,it takes a few more turns over than it used to,
in my ignorance arent all car batteries 12v so how can they be expected to be any higher when no charging system is active

[mparks8590]

I know i thought it a bit high but yep 14.1 before turnover - its always at between 13.5 and 14 as i check it once a week on the BC .... I've never actually done a multimeter reading.... all i'm bothered is that it stays in that region

once it starts to drop then its getting changed...

[DaveG]

I know i thought it a bit high but yep 14.1 before turnover - its always at between 13.5 and 14 as i check it once a week on the BC .... I've never actually done a multimeter reading.... all i'm bothered is that it stays in that region

once it starts to drop then its getting changed...

14.1v for initial charging voltage is spot on. 13.5 to 14.4 V is the "typical charging range" for a car battery.

If the charging level falls below this is more likely to indicate a fault with with the charging system than with the battery.

Dave

[Marky]

I have had the battery light a few times in the last week.

Both the battery and the alternator were replaced in september last year.

Looking at the voltage using test mode, its saying 13.2 with lights, demister and fan4 on.
Once demister is off, fan to 3 and the engine has warmed up a bit it sits around 13.8v.

Is this bad?

I will check the voltage with just ignition on, engine off, and see what it reads.

Two garages have checked that the alternator is charging ok in the last couple of months.

[Birchy63]

Anything under 12.5v is no good. In fact my new Varta had a safety manual that stated not to connect (to a car) a battery that was at less than 12.5v.

[CLOMP]

I had mine checked in the summer as it let me down, it stood outside a hotel for 5 days and on one night we sat in it with internal light on and radio on, for an hour (eating fish and chips), no start in the morning,, so when I got home had it tested at a tyre and battery place,, cold it was 12.2,, running with fans heater on 13.8v , it has never let me down again even in minus 10 degrees, not bad for a 2003 battery.

[Marky]

I will check the voltage with just ignition on, engine off, and see what it reads.

OK this morning put the ignition on and nothing else. The car was saying 11.2v. Started the engine fine and put on the demister fan and sidelights only. Car was reading 13.7v.

So from this I conclude that the Alternator is OK.
But, the battery could be goosed or something is draining the battery a bit overnight.

What should I check now?
Should I double check the voltage figures from the test mode are correct with a multimeter connected to battery +ve and -ve??
See what the voltage of the battery is last thing at night with the ignition off? To see what is being lost overnight??

[mparks8590]

take battery off and multimeter it then and again in morning

[kamar]

13.0 mine is when the temp was -5.. it starts fine so i assume its ok

[ScotsDragon]

Just tested mine,
Outside temp -3.5 c

12.54v Switched off
10.93v while cranking
14.56v when started

TERMINATOR EYE IS GREEN
All is good