[mmlee]

Just noticed that my volt meter is only reading 12v with all my accessories on (cooling fan, heater blower and headlights). With the accessories off and engine running it reads 14.2v.

I checked the alternator and it's fine. The car has been sitting over the winter with the battery disconnected and I just started driving it again (2nd drive of the year). I have an optima battery and I trickle charged (2 amp) it for 20+ hours before I started driving it. The starts and drives just fine. The battery is 4+ years old.

Does this mean that my battery (volt meter reads 12.3v) is going bad (not holding full charge any more) or voltage regulator problem or that the alternator is under sized?

It's a 60 amp alternator with external voltage regulator and the total amp I'm running = cooling fan 19.5amp, heater blower 18amp, lights and gauges = ?amp. No electric fuel pump or special ignition system or fuel injection. The alternator amperage should be more than enough.

The low voltage reading has me slightly concerned after reading this thread or is this nothing to be concerned about.

Thanks in advance for any comments or help.

Mark