service charging system warning - VICTORY
03-24-2011, 10:38 PM
#1
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service charging system warning - VICTORY
I had been battling the dreaded "service charging system" warning for about 2 weeks and I have finally found and corrected the problem ...
my problem -- A burnt starter solenoid. -- total cost of the fix $15. -- dealer estimate $800.
If anyone is having this problem here is what I suggest to do before you take your Vette into the shop or set fire to it:
1. sound your horn -- sounds silly but the horn and alternator are on the same fuse.
2. check your battery cables -- they are prone to come lose.
3. have your battery load tested -- a battery can charge and still be bad...
4. if you have changed out your sparkplugs to after-market, swap them back to stock OEM sparkplugs --- some plugs give off a weird radio signal .
5. If you notice that your voltage is doing massive swings on your gauge, i.e 14 to 11 then back to 14... the cause may be your alternator. have it checked. if the alternator is bad, I would suggest swapping it out yourself as it is really easy to do takes about 5 min to do --all you need is a 15mm socket wrench and a 1/2 inch open ended wrench ... also it might be a good idea to go to a 180amp or better alternator. Look around you can get this alternator for about $200. Dealer will charge about $700-$800 for this fix
6. if the alternator is good, lift the corvette up and check the starter solenoid -- don't just visually inspect it -- reach up and wiggle the top terminal. if it is lose or moves, there is your problem. you DO NOT have to buy a whole new starter ( the dealer tried to tell me I did ). just replace to solenoid. $15 fix and about 15 minutes of your time.
ALSO -- it should be noted that the hot weather "click - click" start problem may be attributed to the solenoid start wire ( it is a plug style prone to problems -- i.e plug with the purple wire ) ... this plug is heat sensitive and when it overheats, it can cause the "click-click" no start problem... what you may consider is swapping to a standard post type solenoid and eliminating that plug. It has been the fix with several of my friends that had the hot weather "click click" problem.
7. none of the above works -- check all off your wiring... look for a lose ground or burnt wire... last thing to check is the ECM module... I think it is in the Right fender well -- that i would take to a professional as I was told they are flashed.
Happy hunting !
my problem -- A burnt starter solenoid. -- total cost of the fix $15. -- dealer estimate $800.
If anyone is having this problem here is what I suggest to do before you take your Vette into the shop or set fire to it:
1. sound your horn -- sounds silly but the horn and alternator are on the same fuse.
2. check your battery cables -- they are prone to come lose.
3. have your battery load tested -- a battery can charge and still be bad...
4. if you have changed out your sparkplugs to after-market, swap them back to stock OEM sparkplugs --- some plugs give off a weird radio signal .
5. If you notice that your voltage is doing massive swings on your gauge, i.e 14 to 11 then back to 14... the cause may be your alternator. have it checked. if the alternator is bad, I would suggest swapping it out yourself as it is really easy to do takes about 5 min to do --all you need is a 15mm socket wrench and a 1/2 inch open ended wrench ... also it might be a good idea to go to a 180amp or better alternator. Look around you can get this alternator for about $200. Dealer will charge about $700-$800 for this fix
6. if the alternator is good, lift the corvette up and check the starter solenoid -- don't just visually inspect it -- reach up and wiggle the top terminal. if it is lose or moves, there is your problem. you DO NOT have to buy a whole new starter ( the dealer tried to tell me I did ). just replace to solenoid. $15 fix and about 15 minutes of your time.
ALSO -- it should be noted that the hot weather "click - click" start problem may be attributed to the solenoid start wire ( it is a plug style prone to problems -- i.e plug with the purple wire ) ... this plug is heat sensitive and when it overheats, it can cause the "click-click" no start problem... what you may consider is swapping to a standard post type solenoid and eliminating that plug. It has been the fix with several of my friends that had the hot weather "click click" problem.
7. none of the above works -- check all off your wiring... look for a lose ground or burnt wire... last thing to check is the ECM module... I think it is in the Right fender well -- that i would take to a professional as I was told they are flashed.
Happy hunting !
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Ken Rahaim (10-14-2016)
03-25-2011, 01:56 AM
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Good info there.
Where did you get just the solenoid and not the starter too?
Where did you get just the solenoid and not the starter too?
03-25-2011, 04:51 PM
#6
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Good Info - one more thing,
Move the alternator wire away from the No. 1 spark plug wire, look here for a photo:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1571481327-post58.html
Move the alternator wire away from the No. 1 spark plug wire, look here for a photo:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1571481327-post58.html
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dmoneychris (10-15-2016)
03-26-2011, 01:33 AM
#7
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Thread Starter
ACE Alternators & Starters
13201 Imperial Highway
Whittier, CA 90605
(562) 903-4150
Hard to believe but they are open 7 days a week !
There is also a second place that came highly recomended to me it is called :
AGS
969 Fairway Drive
Walnut, CA
(909) 468-1777
they specialize in hard to find parts and will rebuild while you wait.
edit -- if anyone needs a solenoid and they will not ship, contact me and I will help you out.
Last edited by C6topless; 03-26-2011 at 01:46 AM.
03-26-2011, 01:35 AM
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Good Info - one more thing,
Move the alternator wire away from the No. 1 spark plug wire, look here for a photo:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1571481327-post58.html
Move the alternator wire away from the No. 1 spark plug wire, look here for a photo:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1571481327-post58.html
Last edited by C6topless; 03-26-2011 at 01:39 AM.
03-26-2011, 11:47 AM
#10
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easy fix ! Glad you found your problem without the need to going to an expensive repair shop.
Last edited by C6topless; 03-26-2011 at 12:14 PM.
05-29-2011, 07:47 PM
#11
6. if the alternator is good, lift the corvette up and check the starter solenoid -- don't just visually inspect it -- reach up and wiggle the top terminal. if it is lose or moves, there is your problem. you DO NOT have to buy a whole new starter ( the dealer tried to tell me I did ). just replace to solenoid. $15 fix and about 15 minutes of your time.
ALSO -- it should be noted that the hot weather "click - click" start problem may be attributed to the solenoid start wire ( it is a plug style prone to problems -- i.e plug with the purple wire ) ... this plug is heat sensitive and when it overheats, it can cause the "click-click" no start problem... what you may consider is swapping to a standard post type solenoid and eliminating that plug. It has been the fix with several of my friends that had the hot weather "click click" problem.
i would appreciate it if you can post pics of the starter solenoid and the solenoid start wire. it will help me locating them
05-29-2011, 08:02 PM
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Good job. The post solenoid is a good idea. GM has had a problem with solenoids for many years. With the post you could use a screwdriver to start the car when it went click click click.
05-30-2011, 09:56 AM
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St. Jude Donor '07
Thanks for your post. I have been having the SCS message quite a while now.
I did change my spark plugs out a while ago but used OEM plugs so I should be ok in this department.
Ah-ha! This is just as I expected. My voltage drops to 11 or below when at idle or low speeds and the high speed fan kicks on. I thought it might be the alternator. I will drop by Pep Boys and have it checked.
5. If you notice that your voltage is doing massive swings on your gauge, i.e 14 to 11 then back to 14... the cause may be your alternator. have it checked. if the alternator is bad, I would suggest swapping it out yourself as it is really easy to do takes about 5 min to do --all you need is a 15mm socket wrench and a 1/2 inch open ended wrench ... also it might be a good idea to go to a 180amp or better alternator. Look around you can get this alternator for about $200. Dealer will charge about $700-$800 for this fix
05-31-2011, 05:38 AM
#16
is this the starter solenoid wire? where is it located exactly? is the pic taken from underneath the car?
05-31-2011, 01:49 PM
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St. Jude Donor '08
Its on top of the starter! Heres a picture of a C5 starter/solenoid. Very close to the same thing. (Dont have a C6 picture yet!)
06-01-2011, 10:11 AM
#18
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Although I failed to take photos ( I know, my bad ) ... it is easy to locate. First you need to jack your corvette up high enough to get under it or use ramps ( PLEASE use jacking pucks or low rise ramps to prevent and body damage ) .... when you are under your vette, the starter is located just left of the passanger side exhaust and the solenoid sits right on top of it. It will have the "plug" and purple wire leading into it and the cable from your battery. You should have no trouble locating it. If i can get my camera to work, I will post photos.
06-01-2011, 10:15 AM
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your post. I have been having the SCS message quite a while now.
Ah-ha! This is just as I expected. My voltage drops to 11 or below when at idle or low speeds and the high speed fan kicks on. I thought it might be the alternator. I will drop by Pep Boys and have it checked.[/QUOTE]
FYI -- If you do swap out your alternator, look online and get a one that puts out more Amps ( the standard corvette alternator is about 145Amps -- barely enough )... It is REALLY easy to change the alternator out yourself.
Ah-ha! This is just as I expected. My voltage drops to 11 or below when at idle or low speeds and the high speed fan kicks on. I thought it might be the alternator. I will drop by Pep Boys and have it checked.[/QUOTE]
FYI -- If you do swap out your alternator, look online and get a one that puts out more Amps ( the standard corvette alternator is about 145Amps -- barely enough )... It is REALLY easy to change the alternator out yourself.
Last edited by C6topless; 06-01-2011 at 10:23 AM.
