Possible bad alternator??

[drpaul87]

97 Rodeo, 3.2L. Cold weather has finally hit here in Pa (tested the 4wd and this truck is an animal in the snow). Started it to warm it up, volt gauge reads 12 when idling. Start to drive and it hits 14v, and stays there. Only on 12 Volt when idling at startup. Bad alternator? Thank you again for this forum.
Paul

[2eyefishclaw]

normal dont worry about it

[Tonupboy]

Yeah, Rodeos are weird, one thing I learned about driving my 93 4wd Rodeo, if it ain't broken, don't fix it...fix it...it has quirks which doesnt bother me at all...like the alternator...it does it once in a while...I was worried at first but she starts great in the morning..

[rodeo02]

Originally Posted by drpaul87

97 Rodeo, 3.2L. Cold weather has finally hit here in Pa (tested the 4wd and this truck is an animal in the snow). Started it to warm it up, volt gauge reads 12 when idling. Start to drive and it hits 14v, and stays there. Only on 12 Volt when idling at startup. Bad alternator? Thank you again for this forum.
Paul

If you are basing your volt readings from the dash gauge, yes. No worries, they are very inaccurate.
G/luck
Joel

[plurge]

Originally Posted by rodeo02

If you are basing your volt readings from the dash gauge, yes. No worries, they are very inaccurate.
G/luck
Joel

I was having the same problems this weekend but my lights were strobing. It ended up being the alternator. My assumption is if everything is working properly, then everything is fine. If you have problems starting or if your dash lights start coming on or your gauge starts fluctuating then you've got a problem.