Voltage Gauge on 01 S22

[DENNIS]

When I'm cruising at about 3500-4000 rpm, my voltage gauge is reading 11.8-12.2 volts.  At wide open it consistently reads below 12v.  At idle and low rpm it reads 13+.  I've never really noticed this until now.  Batteries always seem ok and I've never had a dead battery.  Anyone else have these types of readings from their gauges?

Dennis

[masonlk]

Yup, mine does the same thing. I came to the conclusion it's just part of the electrical gremlins we have with the Medalion dash. I've had the dealer here test it twice over the years and he got a 13+ reading at the alternator both times. At idle, 2500 and 5000 RPM. It still bothers me to glance at the readings and see 11-12.

[Capt Rick]

1st Clean ground cable on engine. Second you should check the battery voltage with voltmeter. Third maybe run ground wire from battery to ground of DECC, black box with orange wires.

Capt Rick

[ktdust]

My voltage always reads low as well (11.8 to 12.2 when cruising). Higher at idle. I bench tested my alternator and it read well over 13. I been successfully ignoring it for the last five years with no problems.

[ATXChris]

If you think it's the ground wire causing issues, connect positive lead of voltmeter to ground wire at DECC and negative lead of voltmeter to the battery negative terminal to measure the voltage drop.  A voltage drop over 0.5 volts or so indicates that you may benefit from running a ground wire directly to the battery.  Also try running this test with accessories running - bilge pump, blower, and lights.

The power and ground wires to the guage cluster are notorious for being problematic on the Epics ....

[DENNIS]

Thanks for the responses.  I've done the new ground wire a long time ago and everything checks out ok with a volt meter.  I'm not going to worry about it too much since a few of us have the same issues and no real problems.

Dennis