So when I drive with my lights on, whenever I put my foot on the brake the volt meter on the dash indicates a drop in voltage from the regular 14 or so to 11 or below depending on how long im stopped and the red charge light comes on. If I am driving or reving the engine any amount above the regular idle speed the voltage picks back up to normal. Also when I am driving without my lights on the problem goes away. Might I have a short that is drawing extra voltage when my lights are on or could this be yet another alt issue?

If this is indicative of a short, how do I find out where it is?

 

Sounds like your alternator is hurtin... take your car to AutoZone / local parts store & have them do a load test on the alternator.

 

is the volt meter supposed to read 14 volts when the car is off? lol, cause mine does

 

It should read 12.6v when the car is off, 14v when running (alternators put out 14v). If you hook up a digital multimeter, it will read somewhere close to 12.6v.

 

That's funny... Mine goes all the way to the left when I shut mine off.

 

my volt meter usually reads 14 when the car is off as well. but the volt meters are not accurate measuring instuments. you kinda have to look at them considering how they normaly read instead of what they actually say.

Yeah I was thinking it might just be the alt that is not keeping up when under a signifigant load. But this alt is only a few months old so I was hoping that wasn't the case.

 

i think its supposed to

 

My volt gauge in any of my 280zx's..never went to the left after shutting the car off. They have all read 12 volts and some change.