I just bought a new duralast Alternator from autozone a few weeks ago to replace my old one that died. I noticed with this one in the mornings when I have the heat on full, headlights on, rear window defroster on and the radio the charge gauge is just on the red linem about 10 volts I guess, is this normal or should I take it back to autozone?

With my subs, rear defrost and heater it dips around 10 at idle. Once i go above say 1500 RPM it'* just right all the way. When i start it though, it'* almost at the upper red section....

mine never goes above 14v.

I'm with Dan, that'* not normal, With my system and all and everything on, never dips below 14.v. Honestly stays 14.7, thes split second I turn my stereo on it drops to 13.5 for than imeditly returns to 14.

I'd check it out if I were you guys. Bad Alt. or maybe old battery not holding charge. sorry

Alternators are one of those things that Autozone is not great at. Some of them will not charge as well as the ACDelco alternators. I have an Autozone one that I pulled because the voltage was dipping too low while using it. I keep it as a spare now.

I had exactly the same thing happen with an autozone alternator, but had no choice but to run it for awhile until I could get a DP. That alternator is also stressing your battery right now.

When the DP got here (160 amp), I installed an Optima redtop with it. I can get it to dip to 12v with everything on at idle, but that'* the lowest. I charge as high as 14.5 or so. My gauge is probably accurate to a tenth or 2 tenths.

this morning my volt meter was doing something similar. hit some stop and go traffic. had the heat on high (front defrost and lower), stereo on (4 channel amp power interrior speaks) talk radio. Gauge started dipping to around 11-12 with brakes applied here and there. eventually want a DP / optima setup like Bill, but being a broke college student as i am, it'* a little out there right now.

Mine will drop to the line above the bottom red when I have the fan on high, lights and radio on, and I am at idle. As soon as I either put it in park, or start moving again, tho, it jumps right back up to normal. I believe we have decided a couple of times that this is normal for a GM alternator