Charging System Fault
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,155
Likes: 154
From: The Arid Sunny Desert
Charging System Fault
I was driving on the street yesterday and got the message twice. While on the highway I didn't get the message and the volts were showing 14 or better. I had the radio on and the auto climate control. The battery is only 1 year old and the volts were going down into the low 13 range and moving back up to the 13.5 range under throttle while driving on the street. Is the alternator going after 7 years and 38K miles or is this normal?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,854
Likes: 1
I had this for a while and it made me so blinking angry it wasn't even funny. Never really was a problem , but it annoyed the hell out of me. You'd have someone in the car and they'd be like; "What does Charge System Fault mean?" after you'd put your foot into the pedal.
I had a '04 Z06 alternator put in. Charge System Fault.
I had a new ignition switch put in. Charge System Fault.
Finally we put in a 59 cent ground to the ignition switch and that solved the problem. I don't know how common the problem is, but you might want to have them look at the switch first.
I had a '04 Z06 alternator put in. Charge System Fault.
I had a new ignition switch put in. Charge System Fault.
Finally we put in a 59 cent ground to the ignition switch and that solved the problem. I don't know how common the problem is, but you might want to have them look at the switch first.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 933
Likes: 3
From: Harlingen TX.
Originally Posted by jedicowboy
I had this for a while and it made me so blinking angry it wasn't even funny. Never really was a problem , but it annoyed the hell out of me. You'd have someone in the car and they'd be like; "What does Charge System Fault mean?" after you'd put your foot into the pedal.
I had a '04 Z06 alternator put in. Charge System Fault.
I had a new ignition switch put in. Charge System Fault.
Finally we put in a 59 cent ground to the ignition switch and that solved the problem. I don't know how common the problem is, but you might want to have them look at the switch first.
I had a '04 Z06 alternator put in. Charge System Fault.
I had a new ignition switch put in. Charge System Fault.
Finally we put in a 59 cent ground to the ignition switch and that solved the problem. I don't know how common the problem is, but you might want to have them look at the switch first.
Respectfully,
J.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,155
Likes: 154
From: The Arid Sunny Desert
I hooked up the Battery Tender just to bring the battery back to full charge so that I can now eliminate the battery as the cause of the message. I'll see what happens the next time out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,854
Likes: 1
Just the charge system fault for me sorry Velocity Driven.
Pewtavert, try violently (yet safely) jerking the wheel around while going down the street. If the message appears, I think this would be an indication that something like a ground could be loose. That would happen to me, as well as the thing would just come on while driving.
Good luck. I know the frustration that is involved for the both of you.
Pewtavert, try violently (yet safely) jerking the wheel around while going down the street. If the message appears, I think this would be an indication that something like a ground could be loose. That would happen to me, as well as the thing would just come on while driving.
Good luck. I know the frustration that is involved for the both of you.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 933
Likes: 3
From: Harlingen TX.
Originally Posted by Pewtavert
I hooked up the Battery Tender just to bring the battery back to full charge so that I can now eliminate the battery as the cause of the message. I'll see what happens the next time out.
To eliminate the possiblity of a bad battery I went ahead and purchased a yellow top Optima. I went ahead and installed it, then had all the codes cleared. No joy! The code popped up immedaitely after starting up the car. At this point I'm going to go ahead and recheck all the grounds and if I don't find anything wrong with it after the 59 cent ground to the ignition..........to the dealership it goes. I'll keep you posted if I or they find out the cause of the problem. Pewtavert, Jedicowboy, thank you for the information, time and patience. Greatly appreicated! Take care and God bless!!
Respectfully,
J.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 26,653
Likes: 8
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Originally Posted by Kenny94945
Jedi,
Can you post a picture or describe where and how to install this .59 ground?
Can you post a picture or describe where and how to install this .59 ground?
I've had this problem from day one.
battery, alternator, ignition all have been changed 
. Several other things have been done also. I still get the Charge System Fault and other messages.
(most worrisome is the Reduced Power message
)There was a sticky about this at one time. Let me see if I can find it.
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