So today I went to go start the hhr and I got a clicking and bouncing gauges but the engine was bumbling so I blipped the throttle and it ran fine. Volt meter read 10.5 for 3 mins or so them went to 12.6-13v while driving. Went about my day because I didn't have to mess with it and it hasn't happened since BUT the voltage readings do this dip to 10.5 for 3 mins or so back to 12.6 to 13. Now I very rarely see more than 13v on my volt meter, I mostly see 12.3 to 12.6 and I've been told this is ok even at highway cruise. I was told by a service writer today that I should see 13.8 all the time. So idk what to believe now. I'm going to test my batt tomorrow (just got a new one maybe a month ago) it's an 07 with 80k on it most likely oem alt. This is starting tout become frustrating. Do you guys typically see 13.8 on your cars while driving

 

(red above) You've been told wrong.

Sounds like you have a no charging issue. Reread your previous thread about your battery problem/replacement. We pretty much covered all the needed info in that thread.
By the way. Whatever became of replacing and/or checking the alternator back then ?

 

So what the service writer said was right. Should be 13.8 while driving then.

The batt had a dead cell. Replaced battery and everything has been fine since then until now

 

FMG is right - you need to have the alternator checked. Yes, 13.8+ should be about what you get with the engine running.

Merging this thread with the previous thread to show the history of events, including replacing the battery.

 

Smh guess it's back to auto zone tomorrow. I was just there getting a part for a nissan I was working on today too

 

I'm 13.8 to 14.2 consistently, 2007 OEM alternator, 6 year old battery.

 

Oldblue your an hhr whisperer hahaha

 

I see dead batteries!!!!

 

I was reading your threads Xlh883,

Hopefully you figure the situation out buddy. 2 weeks ago I had a dead battery but it was my fault. When I was at the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum I accidentally left my headlights on due to a construction zone. I normally dont turn the lights on since the HHR has the auto sensor to put them on. Goodluck with finding out your problem.

I second Oldblue being an HHR whisperer haha! He always knows the answer to all my posts.

 

So odd occurrences this am. Checked resting batt voltage 12.5. Then started it and got 13.4 pretty constantly. Then I turned my headlights off and bam back down to 12.3 to 12.6 turned them back on and 13.4. Turned the defroster on and got 11.9. Sat in my father's parking lot and just turned everything on and including steering back and forth and could not get above 13.6. Idk what's going on