[Z06] Alternator???
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Victoria Texas
Alternator???
Well. . .i was driving down the highway when my Z started to feel like it was missing, maybe more than one cylinder. The check engine light and check gauges light came on. The message center said something like "check motors power supply" (not exactly like this). Any how. . .the voltage reading on my radar detector began to drop more apparent than on the actual voltage gauge. . . . I understand that everything points to the alternator, but why is the engine missing, knocking. And why does it still crank fine why i try to start it?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Have you checked the battery voltage with the engine off, and voltage across the terminals with the engine running?
Seems like you would need that as a baseline before looking further.
Seems like you would need that as a baseline before looking further.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
Well. . .i was driving down the highway when my Z started to feel like it was missing, maybe more than one cylinder. The check engine light and check gauges light came on. The message center said something like "check motors power supply" (not exactly like this). Any how. . .the voltage reading on my radar detector began to drop more apparent than on the actual voltage gauge. . . . I understand that everything points to the alternator, but why is the engine missing, knocking. And why does it still crank fine why i try to start it?
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 104
Likes: 78
From: Charlotte NC
If engine starts battery prolly is good, if alternator is failing it can cause those problems. Check voltage with engine on has to be more than at least 13.0volts at idle. I see on mine 14.0 - 14.8 normailly. Sometimes voltage can be good and alternator is still bad. How many miles do you have on the car?
