How to instal a Voltmeter?
09-14-2008, 11:03 PM
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How to instal a Voltmeter?
I am putting a voltmeter in my car and got the general idea of how to do it, but some more detailed instructions for our specific cars would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys
09-15-2008, 12:12 AM
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09-15-2008, 08:47 AM
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Go to the dash dimmer button on left of steering wheel and hook into the wire that dims the dash gauges. Use a test light. If you want the light to stay on all the time with no dimming just hook the wire with the other wire to the sunroof fuse.
09-16-2008, 09:58 PM
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Just a word of advice for all you people hooking up a volt gauge in yer cobalts. I have one and i thought my alternator and/or battery were messed up because the gauge will read anywhere from 14.4 volts all the way down to less than 12 at times......I had found out that the cobalts are equiped with a feature called REGULATED VOLTAGE CONTROL....it kills voltage to the battery from the alternator at certain times and when the system meets certain criteria.......Just a heads up for all you folks......Later
09-16-2008, 10:07 PM
#14
that doesnt sound right... the cobalt does have a feature that only allows 14.4 from the alt for a few seconds before dropping down to 13.8 but less then 12v means ur getting serious current draw and the batt is draining below its capacity. Theres no way to regulate a battery below its voltage level then draining it all the way
09-17-2008, 03:22 PM
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Actually there is if you read about it......maybe try going on an alldata site and read up on it there if you fail to believe my post.......maybe i was incorrect in saying "below 12 volts"......but it is a regulated charging system.
09-17-2008, 05:27 PM
#17
He is right its part of the fuel management system, or something like that it helps to keep the MPG down
http://www.duboismarketing.com/pages/article.asp?id=31
For those of you who don't want to read it heres a quote
"Why is this important to you? Suppose you have a customer with a 2005 Chevy Cobalt that comes to you complaining that his volt meter has dropped from around 14 volts to 13 volts. He thinks he has a bad alternator. You think that he might be right. At the least he has a charging system problem. Wrong!!! The RVC system is doing its job. The vehicle computer has made a decision based upon vehicle parameters that 13 volts is the most efficient set point on this vehicle. Replacing the alternator might create a different environment that would cause the set point to again be changed, but it could reset back to 13 volts as soon as the parameters are the same as before. "
http://www.duboismarketing.com/pages/article.asp?id=31
For those of you who don't want to read it heres a quote
"Why is this important to you? Suppose you have a customer with a 2005 Chevy Cobalt that comes to you complaining that his volt meter has dropped from around 14 volts to 13 volts. He thinks he has a bad alternator. You think that he might be right. At the least he has a charging system problem. Wrong!!! The RVC system is doing its job. The vehicle computer has made a decision based upon vehicle parameters that 13 volts is the most efficient set point on this vehicle. Replacing the alternator might create a different environment that would cause the set point to again be changed, but it could reset back to 13 volts as soon as the parameters are the same as before. "
