Batt showing 12.48V

[bradleyheathhays]

I have an 02 Taurus and my dash battery light has come on twice in the past week. Once after a few miles of driving, seemingly random, and once when I was warming the engine up. It's been 20-30F around here lately. This second time, I started the engine in the morning at about 20 deg F. Let the idle come down to normal and after about a minute I gave a little gas to get the engine up to 1500 rpm, which is when the batt light came on. It switched back off after about 5 seconds, after I got off the gas.

After sitting for 6 hours, my old multimeter shows 12.48 V on the battery. It's one of those 2 year warranty EverStart batts from Walmart, manufactured in 3/23, so still in warranty.

Does a 12.49 resting voltage justify a warranty claim, assuming it's not the alternator that's going bad?

Thanks

 

[TerryMason]

I'd start by checking the belt going to the alternator. Verify that is tight and in good shape.

Next, I think (but have never done it myself) that Advance Auto (and likely others) can test your battery and alternator for free.

I would expect that the battery light monitors the charging voltage, and is likely more of an indicator of alternator health than of battery.

 

[superj]

12.48 is a hair low.

Each cell should read 2.2v so you should have 13.2 but 12.48 would still start most older vehicles.

I agree with terry that checking your alternator is a better choice with the light coming on.