Is my charging system working right?

[aces-n-eights]

2006 Tahoe, 200k miles.

I'm a little over halfway thru a a long road trip - Alaska to Michigan, about 4500 miles. I look at the voltmeter and most of the time it's a needle width above the "14" - this is the normal reading. Several times a day i'll notice the meter is indicating about 2 needle widths below the "14", then after an hour or so it's back up to normal.

No difference in electrical load that i can determine.

Is this normal operation? Is my alternator trying to tell me something? Will it go another 2000 miles to my destination?

 

[HiHoeSilver]

2006 Tahoe, 200k miles.

I'm a little over halfway thru a a long road trip - Alaska to Michigan, about 4500 miles. I look at the voltmeter and most of the time it's a needle width above the "14" - this is the normal reading. Several times a day i'll notice the meter is indicating about 2 needle widths below the "14", then after an hour or so it's back up to normal.

No difference in electrical load that i can determine.

Is this normal operation? Is my alternator trying to tell me something? Will it go another 2000 miles to my destination?

Normal. The charging system is controlled by the computer based on a few different factors like battery condition, demand, etc.

 

[aces-n-eights]

Thanks HHS! I'm sure it's been that way forever and i just noticed it. Lots of time to think about stuff on a long road trip.

 

[Tonyrodz]

2006 Tahoe, 200k miles.

I'm a little over halfway thru a a long road trip - Alaska to Michigan, about 4500 miles. I look at the voltmeter and most of the time it's a needle width above the "14" - this is the normal reading. Several times a day i'll notice the meter is indicating about 2 needle widths below the "14", then after an hour or so it's back up to normal.

No difference in electrical load that i can determine.

Is this normal operation? Is my alternator trying to tell me something? Will it go another 2000 miles to my destination?

Lucky devil. I love road trips.

 

[aces-n-eights]

Lucky devil. I love road trips.

Yeah, we have done the Alaska Highway 8-9 times over the past 11 years. It's a great trip... lots of wildlife, beautiful scenery. Do it sometime - you won't regret it!

 

[Tonyrodz]

Yeah, we have done the Alaska Highway 8-9 times over the past 11 years. It's a great trip... lots of wildlife, beautiful scenery. Do it sometime - you won't regret it!

I would love to, if I could. Few yrs ago me and a friend drove from Nj to LA(Calif)to drop off 2 Lambos--they were trailered. It was an awesome trip. I'd love to do it again.

 

[dmad1]

My '12 did the same thing. Dealer said it was normal. I was skeptic but the battery never ran down. My '17 does the same.