[Z06] What does your DIC voltage display?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,959
Likes: 2,641
From: Texas Hill Country
What does your DIC voltage display?
Over an average period of time, what is your DIC voltage, on average?
I was showing 13.5 or so with the stock alternator at all times and began to get codes and Service Engine, Traction System, Charging System faults.
I replaced the alternator, which is what was diagnosed as the problem, and it seems to be fixed. However the DIC seems to indicate the system "struggling" to stay between 11.7 and 12.7 (depending on conditions, I guess)....
Was the old alternator being overdriven constantly due to impending or actual failure or is my new remanufactured alternator a weak piece of poop?
Thanks.
I was showing 13.5 or so with the stock alternator at all times and began to get codes and Service Engine, Traction System, Charging System faults.
I replaced the alternator, which is what was diagnosed as the problem, and it seems to be fixed. However the DIC seems to indicate the system "struggling" to stay between 11.7 and 12.7 (depending on conditions, I guess)....
Was the old alternator being overdriven constantly due to impending or actual failure or is my new remanufactured alternator a weak piece of poop?
Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
...before or after sex? 
My (OPTIMA red top) charging system shows the same...about 13.7 to 14.1 depending on what accessories I may be using at the time.
My (OPTIMA red top) charging system shows the same...about 13.7 to 14.1 depending on what accessories I may be using at the time.
Last edited by hotwheels57; Nov 14, 2008 at 01:31 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 385
Likes: 1
From: Chapel Hill North Carolina
Mine was reading 10.4 up to 14.1. All over the place. I was also getting Charging Systems Fault. I traced the problem to the starter. The solenoid was going and the one of the threaded posts was loose inside the solenoid. Replaced starter and now DIC reads 14.1 - 14.3.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 35
From: INDIANA
Mine is 14.0-14.1 every time I notice it. You may have a connection problem, a loose ground or charge wire. If you have ever had a bad battery, sometimes the acid can leak down into the wire from the bat terminal, causing havoc and corrosion that is not visible from the outside. I would check the voltage with a digital meter at the outlet post of the alternator to see if it is putting out higher than the dash says. If so, then you have a connection problem. With the car running, check for a voltage between the alt post and the bat + post. There should be NO voltage. If you do have voltage between them, that shows how much you are loosing due to bad connection or wire. Same thing goes for the ground - post of battery and any other ground on the car, like engine. If you have voltage between, then there is a problem. Good luck.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,959
Likes: 2,641
From: Texas Hill Country
I have a Red Top and the car has been gone through by me first, checking everything with my multimeter and then by a Corvette specific shop to check everything I can't get to in my garage. All connections are tight/good, no fuses or fusible links are blown, etc. The shop even put a new alternator on (OEM) and got it to read high 13s. I went with a damned NAPA alternator and it reads high 12s. It seems like it goes up a little bit each time I drive it. Is there any relearning process for the computer if it is "used to" overdriving the old alternator? The only thing I don't think I would know was bad is an internal starter solenoid issue as mentioned in an above post. May have to look into that.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I'm at the same as most, 13.8 to 14.3. My red top is nine years old, took it out of my previous C5. I'd recheck your battery connections if you have side posts. I initially thought they were tight and then I started getting erratic voltage readings, 11 -14. I tried re-tightening the terminals and they did tighten some more and that cured the problem. The Optima is still working great, however I took the Vette battery and put it in my pickup. I got stuck with my truck when the Delco battery decided to call it quits.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 664
Likes: 6
From: Kearney Nebraska
i know im bringing back a dead post but im currently going through some of the same issues. I recently found that one of the post on the starter was loose as was the connection. The car has a brand new alternator from Advanced and a brand new Everstart battery. Also has a 25% Underdrive pulley, but i just installed a 32% Overdrive alternator pulley. it got my voltage up to around 13.3 with headlight on, fan on low, and CD player on. (without the overdrive pulley i was seeing around 12.6volts)
But what i was wondering is if the bolts in the Starter solenoid should have any wiggle or play at all when they are not fully tight. becuz mine DOES!!! I tightened it back up after my car had any issue of going down to 9.5 DIC volts (when it died as i rolled into the garage). But does the Starter Solenoid bolt work like a T-Bolt? or has the previous owner overtightened the bolt and broke it loose?
But what i was wondering is if the bolts in the Starter solenoid should have any wiggle or play at all when they are not fully tight. becuz mine DOES!!! I tightened it back up after my car had any issue of going down to 9.5 DIC volts (when it died as i rolled into the garage). But does the Starter Solenoid bolt work like a T-Bolt? or has the previous owner overtightened the bolt and broke it loose?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 385
Likes: 1
From: Chapel Hill North Carolina
I had to replace my starter because of the problem you described. I posted earlier on this because my DIC was reading very low and eventually I traced it down to the solenoid. The replacement starter was heavier I don't know if GM realized they needed to be beefed up and there is no play in the solenoid with the new starter. It's a shame you cannot just replace the solenoid I checked and you can't!
14.1-14.2 If its not the connections, and a new alternator was installed it most likely will be the starter.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 664
Likes: 6
From: Kearney Nebraska
Okay so it looks like i need a new starter!!! GREAT!! But incase any of you were wondering about going to the 32% Overdrive pulley on the Alternatorto get the proper Volts After installing the 25% Underdrive you do need to get a smaller belt.
Part number for the Gatorback is 4060770
Length now needs to be 77" instead of 77.5"(just for underdrive pulley only)
I used search looking for the anwnser to how much voltage increase you see with a Overdrive Alternator pulley on a stock alternator and didnt find ANYTHING for Info. It looks like most guys go with bigger wiring (2ga or even 0ga) or bigger 175 amp-22amp alternators. But i gained close to a VOLT back by going with the smaller pulley if anyone uses the search and the cheapest place i could find it was the WS6store.
Part number for the Gatorback is 4060770
Length now needs to be 77" instead of 77.5"(just for underdrive pulley only)
I used search looking for the anwnser to how much voltage increase you see with a Overdrive Alternator pulley on a stock alternator and didnt find ANYTHING for Info. It looks like most guys go with bigger wiring (2ga or even 0ga) or bigger 175 amp-22amp alternators. But i gained close to a VOLT back by going with the smaller pulley if anyone uses the search and the cheapest place i could find it was the WS6store.