Possible stepper motor?

[Matt]

I have either a stepper motor going flaky or the regulator on my alternator is about to blow. My voltage gauge wavers up and down a little bit, at idle and at any speed. When I run torque and am looking at the voltage, it goes from 13.6ish to 14.X. Any thoughts? I'm leaning towards the alt.

Matt

 

[Simon01]

Check all of your connections and have the alternator & battery checked. If the battery & alternator check out OK and the needle is still moving, it's probably the stepper motor in the cluster.

 

[The_Roadie]

Agreed. If the Torque app says the data stream from the PCM sees varying voltage, and the gauge wiggles as well, it's not the gauge. What does your handheld meter say? (Note I assume EVERYBODY owns a cheap meter.)

 

[Matt]

All the connections are tight and the battery is only about 6 months old, there's no starting or charging issues, just that bloody needles wavering back and forth.

I put the meter on it yesterday and at idle was reading around 13.8. Increasing RPM's to 1500 & 2000 increased it to 14.5ish where it remained steady. This, to me at least, indicates the stepper is on it's way out.

I'm learning about the meter, that's why I bought one a while ago from HF.

 

[Simon01]

I put the meter on it yesterday and at idle was reading around 13.8. Increasing RPM's to 1500 & 2000 increased it to 14.5ish where it remained steady. This, to me at least, indicates the stepper is on it's way out.

I think you're right.

 

[The_Roadie]

I'm learning about how Roadie jabs people who don't own a meter, that's why I bought one a while ago from HF.

There, I fixed your post.

 

[Matt]

There, I fixed your post.

Thank you sir...that was short sighted of me!

Well, I learned from the OS that anything electrical will almost always have you asking about a meter.

Thank you both for your help!