When driving where exactly is yours?
I noticed coming home from work today mine was to the right on the + side actually past or totally off the middle mark. Wondering if my battery is starting to get tired.

 

Should be centered or better yet slightly right of center, indicates + or slightly charging battery = all is well, maybe more + if battery is low on charge, which these often are after sitting etc.

Left of center (-) indicates discharge and major trouble coming, requires immediate attention,
otherwise you'll get stranded (no starting power).

-Ron

 

when your truck is running, that gauge has basically nothing to do with your battery. The alternator is constantly ouputing a regulated voltage between 13.5 and 14.5 volts. This regulation ensures that the alternator won't cook the battery. It also means that the voltage won't change with the current demand on it. If your battery was having issues, its current demand from the alternator would change, which would not show up on the gauge, since it is a voltmeter.

EDIT--I am assuming of course that it is a voltmeter; every car I've ever owned has been, but I have no direct knowledge of the connections of our truck's needle gauge.

 

You are correct inbred, it is a voltage indicator.
I didn't word that previous statement very well.

My old school train of thought is:

Low volt gauge > alternator isn't working properly > not putting out enough juice to charge battery
and / or cables bad > spells trouble inbound.

I don't know the specs on these new volt gauges, used
to be a range of around 11-17 volts with 14.5 in the middle, approx.

Maybe someone in the know can clear this up better.

Thanks, -Ron

 

my gauge was about straight up when I first got my truck 2 years ago. it has gradually moved tword the plus side every sense then. I have suspected something might be wrong but every thing seems to work alright. it now reads at amost 2/3 of the gauge. I am not sure if the gauge is reading wrong or what. maybe this weekend I will get under the hood and test the voltage on the battery when it is running.

 

Try a gauge sweep. If it's still sitting in the same place, you will know you have problems...

 

I have done the gauge sweep a few times. no change. I am not sure what would cause it to gradually rise like it has. it has been vary slow over a period of 2 years moveing like 1/8 an inch up. I suspected my battery might be going bad but it seems to start just fine.