Battery never seems to be fully charged

[Harlow]

I've got some electrical issues. I checked the batter output with the keys out of the ignition and it puts out 3 volts with the keys out. The battery gauge on my dash has a C and D on opposite sides (Charge and Discharge?). With the car in park it is slightly over on the C side, when I drop it into gear (lower rpms) the needle moves over to a little bit on the D side, does this mean that at idle the engine is pulling some power from the battery to keep going? With it in park I can disconnect the negative side of the battery and the car keeps running. Should I raise the idle rpm to try and get it to at least the neutral mark in the middle? I'm not really sure what I'm doing here.

[Charger-Bodie]

if it stays running with the battery unhooked its charging. these cars are notirous for discharge while idling in gear, its nothing to worry about at all!

[mikepmcs]

check your grounds, battery cables, hook up to starter themselves.  clean some stuff up and make sure you are working with good equipment first Scott.

v/r
Mike

[Chryco Psycho]

you can use a smaller pulley on the Alt to spin it faster to help it charge at idle but ti is normal to discharge at idle 

[SUPERBEE123]

discharge at idle on the older cars is ok.  please explain better what the battery output is 3 volts with the key out of the ing. means. is the car hard to crank after setting not running for a while if so you may have a battery drain problem,let me know

[supserdave]

Where are you measuring 3 volts?

[Harlow]

3 volts off the positive post to the positive terminal. So something is draining electricity with the car off. Is it just the clock? My clock doesn't work on my dash...

[Plumcrazy]

3 volts off the positive post to the positive terminal. So something is draining electricity with the car off. Is it just the clock? My clock doesn't work on my dash...

Using a test light with an ordinary bulb, connect it between the battery post and terminal. If it lights you have a draw. 

You really shouldn't use a voltmeter to check for a draw on the battery.  Especially a digital one.  They are far too sensitive, they will show a voltage even if the draw is only a few thousandths of an amp.