I have to agree with CaptainKrunch on this one. If the voltage is about
14 V with the engine running and 10.9 V otherwise, then the charging
system is fine and the battery has already failed. Trying to save money
by delaying the replacement is short sighted as a bad battery will wear
out you alternator prematurely.

Since the car is a 2000 the battery is about 4 years old, and it is not
unreasonable for the battery to die at that age.

Franz Bestuchev wrote:
>
> CaptainKrunch wrote:
>
> > That voltage is too low. What you want to do is test the voltage while the
> > car is running. If the voltage is in the 14 volt range while running then
> > your battery is most likely shot. Load testing is a good way to test a
> > battery.
> >
> > CaptainKrunch
> >
> > "joe" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
> > news:nospam-805195.18400421022004@netnews.comcast.net...
> >
> >>How can I tell if I need a new battery?
> >>
> >>A friend of mine tested it and it measured 10.9 volts. Is that bad or
> >>good? It's a 2000 car with the original stock battery. Should I replace
> >>it now, or wait a year or two more? What are the signs/symptoms that I
> >>might need a new one or that it's getting bad?
> >>
> >>Thanks!
> >
> >
> >
>
> That's not always a good indicator though. I just had to buy a battery
> about a week after testing it, both with load and without - tested just
> fine. Like I said though, a week later and it couldn't even run the radio.
>
> I'd say wait until it dies, unless you depend on the car crucially. Or
> you have money that you want to spend.