Dealer says battery is causing high voltage!

[Lomhouse]

I recently switched to an Optimum Yellow Top H7 battery with 880 CCA as the electrical system was shutting down. (I had already replaced one OEM battery that had a bad cell.) After a few weeks it starts acting up again and I bring it to the dealer. They claim they are unable to diagnose it as an error code states the voltage is too high. They are blaming the 880 CCA battery for causing the voltage to soar. Does that make sense?

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[Ducati1098]

High voltage codes are typically caused by a faulty voltage regulator in the alternator. The battery won’t cause this.

 

[Brian_B]

I run a lithium battery that's almost 1V higher than AGM anyway and don't have any issues.

I would be shocked if it's your battery.

 

[Valhalla]

I run a lithium battery that's almost 1V higher than AGM anyway and don't have any issues.

I would be shocked if it's your battery.

TEEHEEEE I get it.

 

[BillyB]

How high is "high?" In volts from digital guage cluster? The DGC with my OEM battery typically sez 14+ volts. Also too current (sic) Optima batterys now have a somewhat mixed/bad reputation, with quality & consistency; not what they used to be.

 

[Ducati1098]

How high is "high?" In volts from digital guage cluster? The DGC with my OEM battery typically sez 14+ volts. Also too current (sic) Optima batterys now have a somewhat mixed/bad reputation, with quality & consistency; not what they used to be.

Modules typically start throwing high voltage codes when they see anything above 16V

 

[CalvinT]

They are blaming the 880 CCA battery for causing the voltage to soar. Does that make sense?

No. Battery voltage is determined by by battery chemistry and the number of cells, not the current capacity. So all six cell lead-acid batteries will have around 13.5 volts depending on state of charge. It doesn't matter if it's a motorcycle battery or your 880 CCA Optimum. Your dealer is either ignorant or lying because they don't know how to fix the problem. I'd go to another dealer.

 

[Lomhouse]

No. Battery voltage is determined by by battery chemistry and the number of cells, not the current capacity. So all six cell lead-acid batteries will have around 13.5 volts depending on state of charge. It doesn't matter if it's a motorcycle battery or your 880 CCA Optimum. Your dealer is either ignorant or lying because they don't know how to fix the problem. I'd go to another dealer.

Agreed! Going to another dealer this weekend.

 

[Chrome_Pony]

Your dealer is either ignorant or lying because they don't know how to fix the problem. I'd go to another dealer.

Or both, could be both. Standard dealer shop behavior, frankly.

 

[PWillette]

I recently switched to an Optimum Yellow Top H7 battery with 880 CCA as the electrical system was shutting down. (I had already replaced one OEM battery that had a bad cell.) After a few weeks it starts acting up again and I bring it to the dealer. They claim they are unable to diagnose it as an error code states the voltage is too high. They are blaming the 880 CCA battery for causing the voltage to soar. Does that make sense?

Did you replace the battery yourself or the dealer? Was the BMS properly reset? Have you checked the voltage yourself?

 

[Lomhouse]

Did you replace the battery yourself or the dealer? Was the BMS properly reset? Have you checked the voltage yourself?

I had it installed by Advance Auto Parts and reset the BMS myself. I have not checked the voltage. Interestingly, hooked up the battery to a trickle charger overnight and everything works fine. I need to see if the alternator is working properly, as the battery shouldn’t have run down that much. Dealer claims they checked the battery and it was good. I guess they never tested the alternator.

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