Help with an alternator!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
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Help with an alternator!
I have an '04 corvette. I just took it to sears and they tested the battery, and said the battery was good(under a year old) and said that the "voltage regulator" was what was bad. Has anyone else had this problem? Does this happen a lot? And how hard is it to change out the alternator? A buddy and I are going to try tomorrow. If anyone one has any directions on how to do it, it would be much appreciated! Thanks guys
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Kannapolis NC
I have an '04 corvette. I just took it to sears and they tested the battery, and said the battery was good(under a year old) and said that the "voltage regulator" was what was bad. Has anyone else had this problem? Does this happen a lot? And how hard is it to change out the alternator? A buddy and I are going to try tomorrow. If anyone one has any directions on how to do it, it would be much appreciated! Thanks guys
Former Vendor
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From: FI Performance : Norwalk Connecticut www.FIPERFORMANCE.com
I have an '04 corvette. I just took it to sears and they tested the battery, and said the battery was good(under a year old) and said that the "voltage regulator" was what was bad. Has anyone else had this problem? Does this happen a lot? And how hard is it to change out the alternator? A buddy and I are going to try tomorrow. If anyone one has any directions on how to do it, it would be much appreciated! Thanks guys
Brian
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
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From: Santa Fe TX
After you check the starter connection, also take a close look at the side post connectors and wires. Mine were corroding from the inside-out and it took me over a year of troubleshooting and returning batteries to figure it out. My fuel mileage kept reseting on cold starts.
If you determine that there are indeed no loose connections and the alternator is the culprit, then
a) remove as stated above
b) Find a local starter/rewind shop and
i) have them bench test the alternator
ii) rebuilt if it's bad.
You'll likely come out cheaper and with a higher quality alternator
If you determine that there are indeed no loose connections and the alternator is the culprit, then
a) remove as stated above
b) Find a local starter/rewind shop and
i) have them bench test the alternator
ii) rebuilt if it's bad.
You'll likely come out cheaper and with a higher quality alternator
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
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It has had no problem starting at all. The voltage just jumps around a lot now. It use to stay at 14.1 volts now when sitting at a light it falls sometimes down to the twelves. The way I noticed it was it when I started the car it said "power falt" and then then everything cycled though saying it was not working, abs, tc, ah. All that good stuff. So I stopped turned off the car waited a sec and started it again and then I noticed the voltage was jumping all over the place it would get as high as 15.4 and as low as 12.7 so at thats when I though it was either the battery or the alternator.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,192
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From: Kannapolis NC
It has had no problem starting at all. The voltage just jumps around a lot now. It use to stay at 14.1 volts now when sitting at a light it falls sometimes down to the twelves. The way I noticed it was it when I started the car it said "power falt" and then then everything cycled though saying it was not working, abs, tc, ah. All that good stuff. So I stopped turned off the car waited a sec and started it again and then I noticed the voltage was jumping all over the place it would get as high as 15.4 and as low as 12.7 so at thats when I though it was either the battery or the alternator.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Kannapolis NC
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...light=65ggvert
Read through this thread and see if anything sounds familiar. He posted later that the starter and fusible link had to be replaced. He had earlier replaced his battery and alternator to no avail. Pay particular attention to Bill Curlee's troubleshooting post in that thread
Read through this thread and see if anything sounds familiar. He posted later that the starter and fusible link had to be replaced. He had earlier replaced his battery and alternator to no avail. Pay particular attention to Bill Curlee's troubleshooting post in that thread
Last edited by 65GGvert; Dec 19, 2009 at 09:24 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Ocean Springs MS
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Kannapolis NC
I'll give this one more attempt, go to the thread you posted in C5 Tech, follow Bill Curlee's advice on bypassing the starter to test the circuit. Did you even try tightening the nut on the red wire on the starter? (with the battery disconnected). Maybe Bill will still try to help if you pm him. Did you save the old alternator? It's most likely good. Good luck.
Last edited by 65GGvert; Dec 20, 2009 at 11:12 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Ponder Texas
The main hot wire from the battery to the starter was loose. It fixed my fluctuations with the voltage. Mine would shoot from 14 to 16 to 12 to 16. Went for a Vette run Sunday...no problems
Good luck!
Intermediate
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From: Ponder Texas
Race Director
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From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
Thread Starter
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I am going to try to take a look at it today now that the sun is out. My stepbrother and I looked last night with a flashlight but really could not see anything. I will get back after I look. BTW thanks guys for all the info!
