What is normal Voltage?

[Ryan]

My battery is new. Car seams to crank slow and the volts range from 11.9 to 12.5. Is this normal?

 

[Morden]

The 12.5 is about right for the battery. The charging system should be around 13.8 - 14.4.

 

[Ryan]

Just looked a little low to me. Don't like seeing anything in the 11s....unless it's the car itself. It may just be tired. One of the bolt in the back of the alternator is stripped. It stays in but can't torque it down. Guess I should take it off the car and test it. I have a "new" one coming. If not for the increased performance......it's cleaner.

 

[Ryan]

I swaped out the alternator. The volts are back to normal. High 13s to 14s. The old alternator was messed up. The bolt near the valve cover was stripped. The bolt on the back with wires connected to it and a nut holding it down......was free spinning. It was probably holding on by a thread from the inside.