Voltage gauge acting up

[jcerockwood]

1998 jeep tj 4 cylinder: Driving in this morning I noticed that the voltage gauge read 0. I opened the hood and the belt looked ok I was a bit worried because sometimes it squeals when I turn on the heat or air. When I started it the gauge shows 14 when I turned on the air conditioner it dropped to 12 ac off back to 14. I did this a few times and it always did the same. It reads 12 with key on engine off.

 

[jcerockwood]

It's really cold here in Tennessee today. When I start the Jeep the voltage shows 12 or the mark on the gauge to the left of 14. Over a minute or so it works up to 14. On the road, it'll stay around 14. I can turn the lights on and off I've tried everything I can think of to put a load in the system it stays on 14. The ac drops it to 12. With the heater on even at high fan it stays at 14 till I start hearing the belt squeak it drops to 12. When I turn the fan off it goes back to 14.

 

[skrelnik]

How old is your battery? Possibly the battery is on its last leg?

 

[jcerockwood]

It's an older battery 5+ years but when I turn the key the starter spins it right up and she starts right away, never any drag.