If the battery is low the voltmeter will read low until it brings it back up to a full charge. The guage will also read low for the following reasons: Loose belt Bad output diode Bad ground for the guages (check by the front left tire on the frame) Dirty battery connection Bad battery You can have the battery and alternator tested for free usually at most large chain stores like Sears, the other things you can check yourself. David Teitelbaum vin 10757 --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "cruznmd" <racuti1@xxxx> wrote: > Now here's a question that I should be able to answer with my > background but I like to hear what other folks have to say: > > Today when I started my car for the drive home from reserve duty I > observed that the voltmeter now reads just below 13V instead of just > above. I've lost maybe 1 volt. > > The discharge light remains -completely- dark. It does light as it > should when putting the key to "run" with the engine off so the bulb > is not burned out. > > All loads (lights, fans, etc) draw the same amount as they did > before, it's just as if the "range" has shifted on the meter. I had > this alternator rebuilt around a year ago. Is it dying already or is > there a ground somewhere dorking up the gauge? > > Rich A. > #5335 To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/