# Unstable battery reading?
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unstable-battery-reading/242853
**Category:** Shift518 Automotive
**Created:** [March 17, 2009, 7:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unstable-battery-reading/242853 "2009-03-17T07:52:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@NedZ32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NedZ32)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2009, 7:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unstable-battery-reading/242853/1 "2009-03-17T07:52:55Z")
I got an “unstable battery” reading yesterday when I went to test my battery. Does this confirm a bad cell?
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### Author:  [@Shady](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Shady)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2009, 7:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unstable-battery-reading/242853/2 "2009-03-17T07:53:47Z")
> [@Hobowars](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/hobowars/14967/200):
>
> I got an “unstable battery” reading yesterday when I went to test my battery. Does this confirm a bad cell?
If its charging, ride it till it dies…
Man, you can’t win with your Z can you?
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### Author:  [@MX-5](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MX-5)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2009, 7:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unstable-battery-reading/242853/3 "2009-03-17T07:54:11Z")
that or it needs a therapist?
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### Author:  [@NedZ32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NedZ32)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2009, 7:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unstable-battery-reading/242853/4 "2009-03-17T07:57:33Z")
> [@FS:350 s10- FYI](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/fs-350-s10-fyi/14459/32):
>
> If its charging, ride it till it dies…
>
> Man, you can’t win with your Z can you?
Something is always breaking on this damn car :banghead
It is reading 14.3 volts with the engine running though. Think it’ll last until this weekend?
> [@Someone school me on TDI's](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/someone-school-me-on-tdis/15695/10):
>
> that or it needs a therapist?
Emo battery? I hope not
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### Author:  [@Shady](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Shady)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2009, 8:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unstable-battery-reading/242853/5 "2009-03-17T08:11:14Z")
> [@My rant on motorcyclists](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-rant-on-motorcyclists/15698/12):
>
> Something is always breaking on this damn car :banghead
>
> It is reading 14.3 volts with the engine running though. Think it’ll last until this weekend?
>
> Emo battery? I hope not
14 or so is right whree you should be
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### Author:  [@NedZ32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NedZ32)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2009, 8:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unstable-battery-reading/242853/6 "2009-03-17T08:48:52Z")
Which is whats confusing to me. My voltmeter reads 14.3 but the machine they used at Monroe read Unstable Battery. They used some high end handheld meter and mine is a $20 pep boys meter :lol
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### Author:  [@ninety1two40](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ninety1two40)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2009, 9:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unstable-battery-reading/242853/7 "2009-03-17T09:42:02Z")
Your battery probably failed the load test, but voltage wise it will take a charge at 14.x
Turn the car off and measure the battery and see how fast the voltage drops over time.
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### Author:  [@NedZ32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NedZ32)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unstable-battery-reading/242853/8 "2009-03-17T19:15:05Z")
I didn’t know that, I’ll try it tomorrow. Thanks
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### Author:  [@88slowmarro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/88slowmarro)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unstable-battery-reading/242853/9 "2009-03-17T19:17:53Z")
if ya wanna know the truth unstable battery voltage is common depending on heat ,load and whatnot ,if its constant it could have a shorted cell and that is not good for the rest of the charging sytem as it works the alt harderwhat ya need to do is pull the batt take to a shop wit a analyzer and get it tested
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### Author:  [@NedZ32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NedZ32)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unstable-battery-reading/242853/10 "2009-03-17T19:24:37Z")
Good looking out, thanks for the info man. I’d rather replace it then instead of dicking around with it.
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### Author:  [@88slowmarro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/88slowmarro)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unstable-battery-reading/242853/11 "2009-03-17T19:25:21Z")
im the same way ,if i gotta fuck with it its comin out