where should the battery gauge needle be while driving

190

Asked by sixtnpaws12claws Mar 16, 2016 at 09:49 AM about the 2004 Ford Explorer

Question type: General

2004 Ford Explorer.  Had alternator and battery replaced.  Where should the
battery gauge needle be while driving?

2 Answers

190

My gauge only shows 3 positions, low, high and middle. Does not show volts. Holds steady in the middle when driving. IIs this normal?

19 people found this helpful.
73,320

If it is somewhere in the middle, it should be ok, but the dash gauge is not totally accurate. When your alternator goes out, it will be way down toward the lower end. If you want to check, purchase a fifteen buck multi-meter, set it to DC volts, and connect it between the two poles on the battery when the car is running. If your battery is fully charged, it should read a little over 14 volts.

2 people found this helpful.

Your Answer:

Explorer

Looking for a Used Explorer in your area?

CarGurus has 2,025 nationwide Explorer listings starting at $6,990.

Postal Code:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    OJ
    Reputation
    30,850
  • #2
    TransAm77
    Reputation
    7,790
  • #3
    Gene Arnett
    Reputation
    7,280
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Ford Expedition
18 Great Deals out of 672 listings starting at $7,894
Used Ford F-150
315 Great Deals out of 13,805 listings starting at $4,500
Used Chevrolet Tahoe
12 Great Deals out of 807 listings starting at $9,980
Used Jeep Grand Cherokee
137 Great Deals out of 3,677 listings starting at $5,555
Used Toyota Highlander
40 Great Deals out of 827 listings starting at $7,498
Used Dodge Durango
52 Great Deals out of 1,902 listings starting at $6,987
Used Honda Pilot
41 Great Deals out of 954 listings starting at $1,230
Used Toyota 4Runner
35 Great Deals out of 557 listings starting at $9,999
Used Ford Escape
127 Great Deals out of 4,263 listings starting at $3,999
Used GMC Yukon
17 Great Deals out of 970 listings starting at $3,000
Used Chevrolet Silverado 1500
193 Great Deals out of 7,903 listings starting at $3,000

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.