Strange electrical problem!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
Strange electrical problem!
Hi everyone, new to this forum and hoping someone can help me out here.
I’m working on a 78 Anniversary with an electrical problem.
The gen light was staying on and someone installed a wrong alternator
The voltmeter was marking below 8 volts.
So, changed the alternator with a 80 amp unit.
all cables are attached and ok.
The gen light is stil on and the voltmeter still shows below 8 volts.
The output of the alternator is close to 14 volts, so ok. Battery is new and gives 12.30 volts.
I opened the Center dash to check there. Tested the voltmeter with a separate battery and works perfect. When I measure at the voltmeter I get about 5 volts, even with running engine.
This is a mystery to me!!
Anyone any idea?
I’m working on a 78 Anniversary with an electrical problem.
The gen light was staying on and someone installed a wrong alternator
The voltmeter was marking below 8 volts.
So, changed the alternator with a 80 amp unit.
all cables are attached and ok.
The gen light is stil on and the voltmeter still shows below 8 volts.
The output of the alternator is close to 14 volts, so ok. Battery is new and gives 12.30 volts.
I opened the Center dash to check there. Tested the voltmeter with a separate battery and works perfect. When I measure at the voltmeter I get about 5 volts, even with running engine.
This is a mystery to me!!
Anyone any idea?
Pro
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 570
Likes: 101
From: Texas
Pro
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 570
Likes: 101
From: Texas
Then it seems there is some electrical break between alternator to Battery. Check to see if the battery is getting fed the 14 Volts from alternator. There should be some kind of bridge next to battery. Possibly either broken wire or lose connection.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
Racer
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 456
Likes: 131
From: England
Have you checked what voltage you are getting both sides of the gauges fuse. If you have some corrosion there and are dropping voltage across the fuse then that would explain the low reading on the voltmeter and the charging light remaining on.